Yamamoto Excels in Debut as a Dodger but Game Ends in Defeat

By: Angela Redding | Los Angeles, CA | Hollywood Beat magazine | February 28, 2024
Photos: MLB Dodgers

Yoshinobu Yamamoto made his Cactus League and Dodgers debut today.

Dodgers Game Recap

Date: February 28, 2024 – Spring Training – Day game

Teams: Los Angeles Dodgers @ Texas Rangers

Location: Surprise Stadium, Surprise, AZ

Starting Pitchers:

Dodgers: Yoshinobu Yamamoto – Spring debut

Texas Rangers: Cody Bradford

Highlights

Yoshinobu Yamamoto shines in his Cactus League and Dodgers debut today!

First Inning

Yamamoto was expected to go two innings today and he did and did not disappoint the fans. Out in support of Yamamoto was fellow teammate Shohei Ohtani.

Start of the Game

The Rangers’ Bradford took the mound for the first inning and threw his first pitch to Chris Taylor, who hit inside of third base down the left field line and made his way to second base for a first-pitch leadoff double.

Bradford’s tenth pitch of the game to Max Muncy clips him on the left hand, putting him on first base. Muncy is at first and Taylor is at second, with one out. Austin Barnes comes up to bat and hits one to second base – double play at second and first – three outs.

Bottom of the First

Yamamoto comes in to pitch. He strikes out the Rangers’ first batter, Marcus Semien, in 6 pitches. End of the first inning, and 11 pitches for Yamamoto. Score: 0-0

Yamamoto‘s Debut

Bottom of the Second

He gets his third strikeout to end the inning and his pitching debut. Two scoreless innings for Yamamoto.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto brought his A-game today.

Bottom of the third Inning

Hudson is on the mound for the Dodgers and strikes out two Rangers. Another scoreless inning.

Top of the fifth

With two outs Andy Pages comes up to bat and hits a high fly home run off of Rangers pitcher Josh Morris putting the Dodgers on the board.
Score: 2-0 Dodgers.

Bottom of the fifth

It’s not looking pretty for the Dodgers at this point.

Ezequiel Duran hits off of Joe Kelly’s third pitch for a triple with one out on the board. Kelly throws a wild pitch which allows Duran to score, making it a 2-1 game for the Dodgers. By the end of the 5th, the score is 2-2.

Top of the seventh

Pages hit one off the wall for a triple. One out, score 2-2. Cody Hosey brings Pages in with a sacrifice fly to right field.

Score: 3-2 Dodgers.

Bottom of the seventh
Rangers take the lead with multiple runs – score 5-3

Top of the eighth

The Boys in Blue almost caught up to tie the game, but they couldn’t pull off the hits they needed to take the lead and win.

This marks the Dodgers’ first Cactus League loss of the season.

3 Ks for Yoshinobu in his spring debut! pic.twitter.com/yk56b8yZTT
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) February 28, 2024

Quick quotes:

Yamamoto spoke with the media with the help of his interpreter Yoshihiro Sonoda after his pitching debut as a Dodger.

“I was just trying to do my job and then try(ing) to stay calm and focus on what I had to do from the get-go, so that what great.”

Couch Roberts told Kristen Watson – Sportsnet LA that as a ball club, they’re really excited to see what Yamamoto can do for them (going forward).

Yamamoto’s debut Cactus League game: Pitched two scoreless innings with 19 pitches – 16 for strikes. Three strikeouts in a two-inning debut.

Final score: 6-4 Rangers

NEXT GAME: Dodgers @ Cincinnati Reds at Goodyear Ballpark on Thursday, February 29 at 5:05 PM PST.