Last December, the Dodgers named Shohei Ohtani the highest-paid player in baseball history. In his first postseason game with the Dodgers, the $700 million man delivered: one home run, two hits, two runs scored, three RBIs.
The Dodgers anointed Yoshinobu Yamamoto the highest-paid pitcher (other than Ohtani) in baseball history last December. In his first postseason game with the Dodgers, the $325 million man failed to deliver.
Yamamoto put the Dodgers in a 3-0 hole in the first inning. He allowed two more runs in the third. He didn’t see the fourth.
In the end, none of that mattered. The Dodgers scored more runs in a game Saturday than in the entire postseason last year. His bullpen pitched six innings.
The Dodgers snapped a six-game postseason losing streak with a 7-5 victory over the San Diego Padres in Game 1 of the National League Division Series.
“We didn’t have an ideal start,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “But the ‘pen guys lifted us up, and the offense was relentless with their at-bats.”
Game 2 is Sunday, with local star Jack Flaherty scheduled to start for the Dodgers.
“What would I say when I was 8 years old? “It would be great,” Flaherty said. “So I’m just trying to enjoy it.”
Four days ago, the Padres clinched their trip to the division series by hitting Max Fried, Flaherty’s former teammate at Harvard-Westlake. On Sunday, the Padres – and a packed Dodger Stadium – await Flaherty.
“A lot of things are going to happen, a lot of excitement with the crowd and the energy they bring.” Flaherty said. “And you just feed off it, feed off every ounce of it.”
“The same in high school. The same. Just a couple more people out there.”
There were more than a few people on the bases against Yamamato. The first two batters reached base. The third batter drove in a run. The fourth, Manny Machado, homered. In total, Yamamoto faced 16 batters, seven of whom reached base.
Yamamoto allowed five runs – tying his season high – in three innings. After 60 pitches, he was done.
“I was really down,” Shohei Ohtani said, “so I’m glad we were able to win.”
The Dodgers trailed 5-3 when Roberts retired Yamamoto. Did Roberts believe Yamamoto was tired, or that the Dodgers couldn’t afford to fall further behind?
“Both,” Roberts said. “I thought there were some glitches. I just felt there was tension. I just thought they were looking at it well.”
Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto reacts after giving up a two-run home run to San Diego’s Manny Machado in the first inning on Saturday.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
The Dodgers detected that Yamamoto may have been giving clues about his pitches, allowing the San Diego runners on second base to guess the pitches to the San Diego hitters.
“That’s part of baseball,” Roberts said. “So it’s on us to kind of clean that up and not give away what pitch he’s going to throw.”
Five Dodgers relievers – Ryan Brasier, Alex Vesia, Evan Phillips, Michael Kopech and Blake Treinen – combined to pitch the final six innings. In one stretch, the Padres sent 19 men to the plate without getting a hit.
“I went and talked to the whole bullpen before the game today,” said Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy, “and I said, ‘Hey guys, don’t be surprised by any situation, don’t be surprised by any phone call that comes down.’ No matter what input, no matter what your role is, be prepared to come into the game and do whatever it takes.
“And all those kids almost pushed me, like, ‘Yeah, we know, we got it.’”
The Dodgers can only hope Yamamoto’s first major league postseason follows the course of his final postseason series in Japan.
About to arrive in the United States, Yamamoto took the mound in the first game of the Japan Series last fall. He allowed a career-high seven runs and his Orix Buffaloes lost.
He pitched again in the series, and brilliantly. He allowed one run, struck out 14 and threw 138 pitches. The Buffaloes won.
The Dodgers arranged their rotation so that Yamamoto and Flaherty would be available for a possible Game 5. If the Dodgers’ relievers continue to pitch well, the off day before Game 3 and the off day before Game 5 could allow the team to deploy a series of fresh relievers behind Flaherty, minimizing the need for Yamamoto.
Would the Dodgers really consider giving up the highest-paid pitcher in baseball history in a must-win game? If the loss meant a third consecutive elimination in the division series, they could do it.
After Saturday’s game, Roberts said Yamamoto was “certainly in the cards” to start Game 5.
Would it be in play to begin with? Or would it be a starter?
“It’ll probably start,” Roberts said, exhaling after a crazy night. “I’m trying to get to the second game.”
