LOS ANGELES (AP) – Yoshinobu Yamamoto bounced back from last week's tough opener in South Korea with five scoreless innings and two hits in Los Angeles' game against the St. Louis Cardinals in his debut at Dodger Stadium on Saturday night.
The 25-year-old right-hander pitched on both sides during a 35-minute stoppage due to rain.
He signed a $325 million, 12-year contract in December, the richest pitching contract in major league history, and posted an 8.38 ERA in spring training. Yamamoto got only three outs in his major league debut last week, in a 15-11 season-opening loss to San Diego in Seoul, allowing five runs, four hits and one walk.
He struck out Brendan Donovan, Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Gorman in Saturday's game and allowed one hit in four scoreless innings before the rain started.
Yamamoto was hit with a two-out double by Alec Burleson in the fifth inning, and he retired Brandon Crawford with a flyout, ending the game. Yamamoto threw 45 of his 68 pitches for strikes, and his 28 fastballs averaged 95.3 mph. He threw 20 splitters, 18 curveballs and two cutters.
Yamamoto took the lead in the fifth with consecutive RBIs by Freddie Freeman and Will Smith. Daniel Hudson relieved from the 6th spot.
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