The Los Angeles Dodgers, having invested $1 billion in Japanese talent during the offseason, have reaped the rewards in their playoff run. Yoshinobu Yamamoto outperformed Yu Darvish in a historic matchup of Japanese-born starters, and the Dodgers clinched their spot in the National League Championship Series with a 2-0 victory over the San Diego Padres on Friday.
Yamamoto’s stellar performance over five innings, allowing only two hits, played a crucial role in the decisive Game 5. His signing for $325 million followed the Dodgers’ record-breaking $700 million contract for Shohei Ohtani. The Dodgers will now face the New York Mets in the NLCS, starting on Sunday.
Despite facing injuries and inconsistencies throughout the season, the Dodgers demonstrated resilience and determination, ultimately avoiding a third consecutive NLDS elimination. Their victory over the Padres, who were shut out in the final 24 innings of the series, showcased the Dodgers’ dominance and the Padres’ struggles.
Yamamoto and Darvish, the first Japanese-born starting pitchers to face off in a major league playoff game, provided a historic moment. Yamamoto’s scoreless start of at least five innings in a winner-take-all postseason game joins an elite group of Dodgers pitchers.
The Dodgers’ bullpen, which stepped up during the regular season due to injuries, continued to excel in the series. Evan Phillips, Alex Vesia, Michael Kopech, and Blake Treinen combined to shut down the Padres’ powerful lineup.
On the offensive side, Kiké Hernández and Teoscar Hernández provided timely home runs to propel the Dodgers to victory. The Padres’ star hitters, including Luis Arraez, Fernando Tatis Jr., Jurickson Profar, and Manny Machado, struggled to produce in the decisive game.
The Dodgers’ victory was celebrated with joy and relief, as they secured their place in the NLCS and looked forward to the challenge of facing the Mets.