- Yoshinobu Yamamoto picks up the win with 8 K's against 23 batters
- Shohei Ohtani turns into an on-base machine with 2 walks (including a 4-pitch unintentional walk in the 2nd)
- Lineup explodes in the top of the 3rd, Freeman's 2-run hit puts the game away
Man, what a HUGE win!
Road game against the Astros, and when the dust settled it was an 8-3 blowout! I thought this was gonna be a shootout, but the Dodgers offense piled it on in the top of the 3rd, and Yoshinobu locked it down behind them. THIS is what a strong Dodgers team looks like. Lost count of how many beers I cracked open.
Yoshinobu was UNREAL today!
First things first — Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Faced 23 batters, gave up just 5 hits, struck out 8, and walked only 1. Topped out at 98 mph, sat around 91, and his splitter and cutter were absolutely untouchable today. Sure, he gave up one bomb — that Zach Cole shot in the bottom of the 5th — but that was probably just a fastball that caught too much of the plate. We had an 8-2 lead by then, so no real damage. If anything, he showed the swagger of a Japanese ace, racking up 8 K's. Can't wait for his next start already.
Shohei went 0-for-4 but still got it done
Ohtani had 5 PAs with 2 walks. Yeah, 0 hits on paper, but this is straight up "they're scared of him" territory. In the top of the 2nd he drew a 4-pitch unintentional walk on straight balls — the pitcher couldn't even find the zone. In the 5th he laid off the sweeper for another walk. The dude's eye is absolutely insane.
That bases-loaded fielder's choice in the top of the 3rd — exit velo was just 68 mph and the ball only went 6 feet, but he still pulled a run out of it. Avoiding the double play and getting that run home in that spot? That's Shohei's wheels at work right there.
The flyout in the top of the 7th was a real bummer. Ahead 3-1, sweeper left over the plate, exit velo 91.2 mph, distance 337 ft, launch angle 34 degrees. Just a little more carry and that's gone, no doubt.… Aw man! I literally spit out my beer. Oh well, next time! Next time!
The lineup came alive too
In the top of the 2nd, Freeland's solo shot tied it up, then Smith's RBI double put us ahead. Top of the 3rd — right after Tucker hit a 2-run shot — we answered with Shohei's RBI fielder's choice and Freeman's 2-run knock to blow it open at 7-2. Freeman with 2 RBI today, what a guy.
Bottom line
Grabbed the opener of the road trip. Yoshinobu was rock solid, Shohei was an on-base machine, the offense exploded. Nothing to complain about. Bring on game two!
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