Yoshinobu Yamamoto dropped an absolute bomb on the Atlanta Braves Tuesday night, dealing seven dominant innings and guiding the Dodgers to a critical 3-1 victory in Game 3 of the National League Division Series at Truist Park. That win puts Los Angeles up two games to one in the best-of-five series, and frankly, it felt like a statement.
Yamamoto’s Postseason Masterpiece Steals the Show
Yamamoto was just locked in, man. He carved up the Braves lineup for seven strong innings, only giving up a single run, and needed just 98 pitches to do it. He even tied a season high with 10 strikeouts, a mark he hit three times during the regular season. But here’s the kicker: those 10 Ks are a brand-new postseason career high for Yamamoto, making it the 20th double-digit strikeout game in Dodgers postseason history. You gotta go all the way back to Shohei Ohtani in Game 4 of the 2025 NLCS to find the last time a Dodger pitcher hit that kind of K-mark in October. He only allowed two singles in the first four innings, one of which was a bunt where he slipped trying to throw to first base. That was one of three plays where a Dodgers fielder lost their footing on the Truist Park turf. The only real trouble he faced was in the fifth inning, after two singles opened the frame and a four-pitch walk to pinch-hitter Rowdy Tellez loaded the bases with one out. A ground out brought in a run, but another grounder ended the inning, and Yamamoto kept the lead intact. That’s serious composure when the pressure’s on.
Sale Fights, Dodgers Break Through
Look, Chris Sale, even at 37, is a tough dude to square off against. His first six outs were all strikeouts, and he was looking like the ace who allowed only three runs in 16 innings against the Dodgers during their two regular season matchups this year. But the Dodgers kept battling. In between those early strikeouts, they still managed to get two hits and another guy reached on an error. They loaded the bases in the third inning after two more hits and a catcher’s interference, but couldn’t bring anyone home, stranding six runners by that point in a scoreless game. Still, you could see the cracks forming, especially with Sale needing a hefty 62 pitches just to get through the first three frames. The Dodgers homered twice in this one and really made Sale work. Braves star Freddie Freeman, who crushed a homer in Game 2, hit a ball that looked destined for glory over the left field wall, but Mauricio Dubón came up with a massive play, robbing him of a two-run home run that would’ve been a game-changer.
Yamamoto: The Postseason Road Warrior
Here’s the wild part about Yamamoto’s performance: the dude loves playing on the road in the postseason. All five of his last postseason appearances have been away from home, and he’s won every single one of them. In the four starts he’s made in that stretch, he’s gone at least six innings and only allowed one run in each. Oh, and let’s not forget that legendary eight-out, championship-clinching scoreless relief appearance last November, pitching on zero days rest. Over those five road postseason games, Yamamoto has given up a grand total of four runs in 33 2/3 innings, piling up 32 strikeouts against just four walks. He’s clearly figured out how to make himself right at home when he’s on the road.
Game 4 is up next, and the Dodgers have the chance to close out this series. You know the Braves are going to fight like crazy, but with Yamamoto showing up like this, the momentum is absolutely with LA.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by True Blue LA.
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