Dodgers Interview: Yama Breaks Down the Best Start of his MLB Career
MILWAUKEE — Yoshinobu Yamamoto walked off the mound in Milwaukee with a complete game in his pocket and a grin he couldn’t quite hide. One mistake on pitch one. Then nine crisp innings on 111 pitches. It was a masterclass the likes of which we haven’t seen since… yesterday, I guess.
“We put the game plan together with a lot of voices,” Yamamoto said after the game. “I added ideas from Mark and from Will and built it from there.” The first swing went over the wall, but he did not blink. “It was the first batter, so I was very frustrated,” he said. “I switched right away and threw to the next hitter.”
For him, the night was about rhythm and pace. “I focused one inning at a time and kept a good tempo,” he said. “I am happy I could close the game at the end.” He felt the game tilt back his way when the offense answered. “They got it back for me right away in the first,” he said of the quick tie. “After that I focused on protecting the lead.”
Roberts’ trust to keep him out there mattered. “Being trusted and being given the ball for long innings makes me very happy as a player,” Yamamoto said. “He trusted me and I could return that with the result.” When asked if going out for the ninth was a rush, he kept it steady. “When we decided on the ninth, my feel was very good,” he said. “I wanted to pitch with confidence.”
Max Muncy said he thinks there is still another level. Yamamoto nodded. “Even in this game I felt my own growth,” he said. “There are things to reflect on, especially the first inning, but winning an important game like this can lead to more growth. I want to keep going.”
A brief mound visit in the fifth sparked questions. He explained it cleanly. “The first-pitch sign was a split,” he said. “I did not expect a swing on the first pitch and wanted a split with a little less speed in the zone. It did not work. There was some confusion and they checked on me, but there was no problem at all.”
The pitch mix kept Milwaukee off balance because he read their intent. “I used many different pitches,” he said. “From the start I felt they were very aggressive, so I threw the most effective ball to good spots.” Once he saw that aggression, he leaned into location and sequencing. “I could throw the right ball to the right place,” he said. “That connected everything.”
Finishing what he started meant something. “To end the game on the mound here for the first time, I felt a lot of achievement,” he said. “The most important thing is I could contribute to the team’s win.” He added that the moment never got too big. “I established my rhythm and dictated the tempo,” he said. “That was great for me.”
He also tipped his cap to the room around him. “Everyone in our rotation is pitching very well,” he said. “Blake yesterday was great, so I felt I could go, too. I feel a positive effect beyond just the results.” The standard, he said, is shared. “We do not panic,” he said. “Whatever happens, we keep taking our at-bats and I reset on the mound.”
On what he enjoys about this version of himself, he smiled. “When it goes well, it is fun,” he said. “When I get hit, I am frustrated. That is how it is.” Simple. Honest. And on Tuesday night, complete.
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