The Los Angeles Dodgers’ pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto has finally done it. He bagged the coveted first win under his belt. Despite a rough debut that left his ERA at an astounding 45.00. Yamamoto finally bounced back on Saturday. He pitched five scoreless innings and led the Dodgers to victory (4-1) over the Chicago Cubs. But let’s just say that the win wasn’t without tense moments. 

In the very first inning, Yoshi was seen facing a bases-loaded jam with no outs. However, the young pitcher displayed nerves of steel. He struck out the side to escape the early danger. But let’s just say that, this wasn’t a fluke. In the second inning, another situation with bases loaded arose, and yet again, the Japanese import rose to the occasion. And with his impressive curveball, he froze hitters like even Cody Bellinger to end the inning.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto Silencing Doubters With His Stellar Debut Win

In Yamamoto’s words through an interpreter, “All of the pitches I have is very important, then earlier in the game the split I have wasn’t going down so that’s why I used the curveball to get back into the count.” The capability to adjust and depend on his secondary pitches was key for the 25-year-old’s success. On one hand, his splitter was not working as planned. On the other, he effectively utilized his curveball to meander through early jams.

It is to note that his outing was cut short at 80 pitches. Additionally,  Yamamoto left a lasting impression. He retired the final nine batters he faced as he struck out eight while letting just three hits and two walks. This was a stark contrast to his debut in which he merely recorded three outs. .

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His performance was so great that even manager Dave Roberts gave his opinion. His words were, “It was a really good outing, obviously that first inning got a little stressful. His pitch count got up, but for him to reach back and strike out the last three guys in that inning to get out of it was huge.” With that, it’s safe to say that this win marks a personal milestone for Yoshi. But that’s not it. 

Opponent Chicago Cubs’ Opinion of Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Yamamoto’s win also establishes himself as a valuable asset to the Dodgers’ pitching staff. His unique delivery and ability to command multiple pitches have taken both teammates and opponents by surprise. The Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner shared, “He has a unique delivery. I think the timing aspect is unique, obviously he has a good fastball and he was able to command his breaking ball.”

Read More : Dodgers Prepare Yoshinobu Yamamoto for $325 Million Expectations, Lessen Pressure Amidst Spring Training Hype

With this win, Yoshi has quieted the doubts that ensued after his debut. He has proven his skills to perform under pressure. The foreseeable future looks bright for the young pitcher. The Dodgers’ fans can now certainly be excited to see him evolve as the seasons come.