Yoshinobu Yamamoto Gets His Work In During Dodgers' Cactus League Opener As Wbc Looms

TEMPE, Ariz. — Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto toed nan rubber Saturday for nan team’s Cactus League opener against nan Angels astatine Tempe Diablo Stadium pinch nan anticipation that it would beryllium his only commencement earlier joining Team Japan for adjacent month’s World Baseball Classic.

Even head Dave Roberts believed that was nan lawsuit arsenic he came retired to assistance his prima pitcher pinch 2 outs successful nan bottommost of nan 2nd inning.

“Doc came to nan mound, and he said, ‘Good luck successful nan WBC,’” Yamamoto said via expert Yoshihiro Sonoda. “But actually, I person 1 much crippled to pitch.”

After giving up 1 earned run, 3 hits and striking retired 3 successful his 30-pitch outing, Yamamoto said he believes his adjacent commencement will beryllium connected Friday against nan San Francisco Giants astatine Scottsdale Stadium.

Yamamoto cruised done nan first inning, striking retired 3rd baseman Yoan Moncado swinging and getting shortstop Zach Neto to look astatine a called onslaught 3 connected a darting sinker.

But past nan Dodgers, who had scored 3 runs successful nan apical of nan first, sent 11 men to nan plate, scoring six runs connected 5 hits, 2 walks and a deed batter successful a half-inning that took astir 30 minutes. Yamamoto believes nan agelong break betwixt innings whitethorn person disrupted his workflow, contributing to a messy 2nd inning.

A dropped alert shot connected nan informing way successful near section by Teoscar Hernández spelled problem for Yamamoto, scoring a tally and allowing Jo Adell to scope 2nd guidelines pinch cipher out. Yamamoto struck retired nan adjacent hitter, getting near fielder Josh Lowe to plaything done a splitter, earlier allowing back-to-back outfield statement drives to catcher Logan O’Hoppe and 2nd baseman Christian Moore. After Bryce Teodosio flied retired for nan 2nd retired of nan inning, Yamamoto’s time was done.

Yamamoto reached into his five-pitch repertoire Saturday, mixing successful six fastballs, 8 splitters, 5 sinkers, 4 cutters, 4 curveballs and 3 sliders. His fastball sat betwixt 91 and 93 mph, topping retired astatine 94.9 mph.

“I was looking for immoderate worldly I needed to get backmost earlier I spell backmost to Japan and subordinate nan team,” Yamamoto said. “I was looking guardant to nan feeling, nan transportation and those things.”

Fans battalion Diablo Stadium for Saturday’s crippled betwixt nan Angels and Dodgers.

(Ronaldo Bolanos / Los Angeles Times)

He added: “Yesterday’s practice, I was already emotion good. And then, someway I was capable to transportation that to today’s game, particularly nan first inning. I deliberation I was great, but owed to nan spread betwixt innings, that affected maine a small bit.”

With Yamamoto’s clip being constricted pinch nan Dodgers earlier nan WBC, Roberts said pregame Saturday astir what he hopes to spot from his prima pitcher successful nan clip starring up to nan event.

“I deliberation that obviously, him going and pitching for Team Japan, he’s going to beryllium trying to ramp it up and get prepared,” Roberts said. “So, I deliberation it’s conscionable much of what he does [on] onslaught one, [how he] uses secondaries, and beryllium businesslike and get immoderate outs.”

Though Yamamoto will transportation erstwhile much earlier leaving for nan WBC, Roberts told reporters that he isn’t concerned astir nan WBC interrupting Yamamoto’s mentation for nan regular season.

“I deliberation I’m assured because there’s nary nonstop subject connected ramping up early and success, aliases being methodical and not participating to consequence successful occurrence during nan season,” Roberts said. “There’s conscionable nary nonstop science. For me, and for each of us, you’re conscionable believing successful nan player, knowing that he knows what it takes to beryllium fresh for a play and he takes attraction of himself, truthful I deliberation for me, it’s an easy measurement to deliberation and wrap my caput around, conscionable benignant of believing successful him, trusting him.”

Etc.

Dodgers correct fielder Teoscar Hernandez hugs Dodgers head Dave Roberts aft scoring successful nan first inning.

(Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Times)

Just complete a week into camp, utilityman Hyeseong Kim has already made a beardown first impression, arsenic he vies for much playing clip successful his 2nd season. On Saturday, he went 2 for 3 pinch 3 RBIs to thief spark nan Dodgers’ violative outburst. Elsewhere, nan apical 3 hitters successful nan lineup — Shohei Ohtani, Hernández and Andy Pages — mixed for six hits successful 9 at-bats pinch 2 RBIs. ... The Dodgers claimed outfielder Jack Suwinski from nan Pittsburgh Pirates. To make room connected nan 40-man roster, nan Dodgers transferred utilityman Kiké Hernández to nan 60-day injured list.