Dodgers Pitcher Yamamoto Seeks Answers After Difficult NLCS Outing
Yoshinobu Yamamoto expresses uncertainty about the causes of his shortest postseason start as the Dodgers fall behind 2-0 in the NLCS.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto is searching for explanations following a challenging outing in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series (NLCS), which saw him removed earlier than anticipated. The Dodgers lost the game 7-4 to the Milwaukee Brewers, putting them in a 2-0 series deficit.
Yamamoto struggled in the third inning, ultimately allowing three runs on four hits and two walks over 2 ⅔ innings. He recorded only one strikeout during his appearance. The pitcher, who was a key contributor for the Dodgers in their World Series run the previous year, stated he needs to review video to understand the specific issues from Monday's game.
"I don't know the exact reason yet, I need to check the videos on what happened today," Yamamoto said. "I wanted to get through the third inning but couldn't."
The Brewers' offense was persistent against Yamamoto. In the third inning, Milwaukee managed to load the bases, with Christian Yelich delivering a two-run single to give the Brewers a 3-2 lead. This decisive hit came after Yamamoto had already thrown 22 pitches across multiple batters, including a walk to Brice Turang on a full count.
Yamamoto also faced a lengthy at-bat against Jake Bauers, who fouled off six pitches during a 12-pitch sequence before drawing a walk. This extended battle contributed to Yamamoto's pitch count.
"I was trying to work on the edge of the zone, some pitches were really good," Yamamoto commented on facing Bauers. "He just stayed on it. He did a good job."
Following Yamamoto's departure, Alex Vesia entered the game and struck out Garrett Mitchell to end the inning. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts explained the decision to pull Yamamoto during a mid-game interview, stating, "we had to stop the damage right there."
Despite the Dodgers scoring three more runs after Yamamoto left the mound, the Brewers extended their lead. William Contreras was a key offensive force for Milwaukee, finishing 3-for-4 with three RBIs, including a game-tying home run in the fifth inning and a go-ahead RBI single in the sixth. The Brewers added two more runs in the eighth inning to secure their victory.