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When the Los Angeles Dodgers signed Yoshinobu Yamamoto to a $325 million deal in the offseason, they knew he would have to play a crucial role if they are to make a deep run into the postseason. The Japanese pitcher held his fort in a crucial World Series Game 2 on Saturday, giving up just one hit to help his team to a 2-0 lead.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched into the seventh innings and earned just one hit, a solo home run off the bat of Juan Soto. The 26-year-old induced four strikeouts and allowed just two runners on base by the virtue of walks. In the seventh innings, after he had popped out Giancarlo Stanton, manager Dave Roberts brought on Anthony Banda to relieve him.
Yamamoto received a warm greeting and a handshake from his manager while his teammates patted his back on a job well done. The starter also get serenaded by the entire Dodger Stadium crowd rising up to applaud his performance. He tipped his cap as he headed into the dugout.
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This was Yamamoto's fourth postseason start. After a tough outing against the San Diego Padres in the ALDS opener, he has stabilised his form.
Yamamoto was crucial in the Dodgers' ALDS decider victory before putting in a solid effort in Game 4 of the NLCS against the Mets. In 18.2 innings pitched, he has seven earned runs with 11 strikeouts and 4 walks.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto reacts to Dodger Stadium's standing ovation
In the post-game interview, Yoshinobu Yamamoto was asked about how he felt when the entire Dodger Stadium chanted his name in the seventh inning.
A calm and composed Yamamoto replied that he had been preparing for the game for a long time and that he was satisfied with the ending.
"I was looking forward to this game, and I'm glad we had a great ending", Yamamoto said through his interpreter Yoshihiro Sonada.
The World Series now heads to the east coast in New York. The Yankees will have a chance to script a comeback in the next three games at Yankee Stadium. On Monday, they are slated to start Clarke Schmidt, who will be going up against LA's Walker Buehler.
