Yoshinobu Yamamoto endured his toughest start of the season, allowing a season-worst five runs in a loss that dropped his record to 3 defeats. The right-hander expressed frustration after surrendering consecutive home runs to the bottom of the lineup, admitting he must place greater emphasis on the basics of his pitching mechanics.
Despite his struggles, Yamamoto remained upbeat, noting that the margin between success and failure was razor-thin. “It was a close game, but I need to take better care of the fundamentals,” he said.
Shohei Ohtani provided a bright spot for the Dodgers, ending a 12-game homerless drought with a solo shot. However, Yamamoto was unable to preserve the lead, as the opposition rallied after his exit. “It was great for the team that Ohtani hit that homer,” Yamamoto said. “I wanted to protect the lead and carry that momentum into the next innings, but I couldn’t.”
Manager Dave Roberts revealed that Yamamoto was removed after seven innings due to a slight dip in stamina. “He looked like he was running out of gas a bit,” Roberts explained. “We decided to turn to the bullpen.”
The loss marked the Dodgers’ fourth straight defeat, but Yamamoto remains confident in his overall performance, emphasizing that minor adjustments will yield better results. “I believe I’m close to where I want to be,” he added. “I just need to sharpen my execution.”