Yamamoto credits teammate's 'dirty word' for NLDS success
The Dodgers pitcher revealed a vulgar word from Kiké Hernández helped him overcome a bases-loaded jam in Game 3.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto credited a profanity-laden piece of advice from teammate Kiké Hernández for helping him navigate a crucial bases-loaded situation in the Los Angeles Dodgers' 3-1 NLDS Game 3 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday.
Mound visits are common in baseball, but a seemingly simple chat between Yamamoto, catcher Will Smith, and Hernández took an unusual turn. After Hernández, who also homered in the game, whispered something to Yamamoto, the pitcher nodded and proceeded to induce two consecutive groundouts, ending the threat in the fifth inning.
Yamamoto, who pitched seven innings and struck out 10 batters, described the word used by Hernández as "very" dirty, though he declined to reveal its specifics. This intervention proved pivotal in maintaining the Dodgers' lead and ultimately securing the win, which gave them a 2-1 series advantage.
The Dodgers' victory was bolstered by Yamamoto's strong performance, continuing his consistent postseason pitching pedigree. The 28-year-old Japanese pitcher outdueled Braves ace Chris Sale, allowing only one earned run and solidifying his role as a key asset for Los Angeles in the pivotal playoff series.