Watch: Dodgers P Yoshinobu Yamamoto escapes bases-loaded jam with three Ks
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto avoided catastrophe in the first inning against the Chicago Cubs on Saturday afternoon.
After an infield hit loaded the bases, Yamamoto struck out three batters in a row to get out of the inning unscathed.
His first strikeout was his most impressive. The seven-year Nippon Professional Baseball star showed off his filthy curve when he induced designated hitter Christopher Morel to swing for strike three.
His next strikeout was more controversial. On a full count, Yamamoto zipped a 97-mile-per-hour fastball that just clipped the bottom of the strike zone, if we're being generous.
He ended the frame with a called strike on an 80 mph curve.
But Yamamoto wasn't done. The Cubs also loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the second inning before he struck out former Dodgers star Cody Bellinger on a curve to snuff out the scoring opportunity.
Yamamoto was one of several high-profile additions for the Dodgers during this offseason. He had a rough first start, allowing five runs in one inning against the San Diego Padres, but was much better in his second outing, when he tossed five scoreless innings on Mar. 30 against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Yamamoto's curveball is already a problem and he has done a masterful job of painting the edges of the strike zone with his fastball. In only his third MLB start, he appears to be quickly finding his footing.
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