Los Angeles Dodgers Waste a Great Start From Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Let’s be honest, Yoshinobu Yamamoto is probably wondering what he has to do to get a win around here. The man is dealing absolute fire, putting up numbers that should have him cruising to victory, but the Dodgers’ bullpen seems determined to turn his masterpieces into tragic comedies. Friday night against the Giants was just the latest gut-punch in a series of them.

Yamamoto was electric. For seven straight innings, he was a magician on the mound, making Giants hitters look like they’d never seen a baseball before. He racked up 10 strikeouts, surrendering only a single run on one measly hit. After a shaky first inning, he retired 20 straight batters. Twenty! That’s not just good; that’s utterly dominant. It’s the kind of performance that gets fans buzzing and has the other team’s dugout shaking their heads in disbelief.

A Tale of Two Yamamotos: Early Stumbles, Utter Dominance

It wasn’t a perfect start, though. The first inning felt like a different game entirely. Yamamoto gave up his only hit, a walk, and the lone run before you could even get comfortable in your seat. For a moment, it felt like it might be one of those nights.

But then, something clicked. Yamamoto flipped a switch and went into what can only be described as “beast mode.” He mowed down hitter after hitter, a picture of calm and control. It was his third straight game with at least seven innings of one-run ball and his third straight with double-digit strikeouts. The guy is in a ridiculous groove, looking every bit the ace the Dodgers paid a king’s ransom for.

Bullpen Blues and Offensive Woes Strike Again

So, with Yamamoto leaving the game after a stellar outing and the score tied, what happened? You guessed it. The Dodgers’ offense went MIA, and the bullpen imploded in spectacular fashion in extra innings. The offense left nine runners stranded and went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position. It was painful to watch.

Then, in the 10th inning, Patrick Bailey stepped up and crushed a walk-off grand slam, handing the Giants a 5-1 win and Yamamoto a big, fat no-decision for his efforts. It was a familiar, heartbreaking story. Just last week, he was one out away from a no-hitter, only for the bullpen to blow it.

You can’t help but feel for the guy. He’s putting up Cy Young-worthy performances, and his team is letting him down time and again. The Dodgers better figure out how to support their ace, or they’re going to waste some of the most dominant pitching performances we’ve seen all season. Yamamoto deserves better.