Yoshinobu Yamamoto lasted just one inning in his Los Angeles Dodgers' debut after signing a record $325 million, 12-year contract, giving up five runs to the San Diego Padres on Thursday night.
Padres Dodgers Baseball Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, second from left, speaks with interpreter Will Ireton, second from right, as catcher Will Smith, left, and second baseman Gavin Lux during the first inning of a baseball game at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Seoul, South Korea. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
AP Photo/Lee Jin-man
Padres Dodgers Baseball Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Seoul, South Korea. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon
Padres Dodgers Baseball Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Seoul, South Korea. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon
Padres Dodgers Baseball Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto walks off the ties after Jackson Merrill struck out during the first inning of a baseball game at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Seoul, South Korea. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
AP Photo/Lee Jin-man
Padres Dodgers Baseball Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, second from right, speaks with interpreter Will Ireton, second from right, as catcher Will Smith, left, and second baseman Gavin Lux during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Seoul, South Korea. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
AP Photo/Lee Jin-man
Padres Dodgers Baseball Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, second from right, speaks to teammates during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Seoul, South Korea. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Yoshinobu Yamamoto lasted just one inning in his Los Angeles Dodgers’ debut after signing a record $325 million, 12-year contract, giving up five runs to the San Diego Padres in a 15-11 loss on Thursday night.
The 25-year-old right-hander trailed 2-0 after nine pitches and needed 43 pitches to get three outs, leaving with a 45.00 ERA.
“I feel regret that I just couldn’t keep the team in the game from the get-go, so I do feel the responsibility for it,” Yamamoto said through a translator. “I just got to get ready for the next outing.”
San Diego batted around, and Michael Grove relieved Yamamoto with the Dodgers trailing 5-1.
“Just didn’t have the command and so it’s not about the stuff,” Roberts said. “When you’re a command guy, which he’s been his entire career, his life, and you just misfire, get behind in counts, hit batters, that’s just not who he is. … He’s an easy guy that you know he’ll bounce back from this.”
Xander Bogaerts singled to left on his first pitch, a 96.6 mph fastball over the heart of the plate. Fernando Tatis Jr. was hit by a full-count splitter and Jake Cronenworth tripled into the right-field corner for a 2-0 lead.
Manny Machado walked, bringing pitching coach Mark Prior to the mound 15 pitches in.
Ha-Seong Kim hit a sacrifice fly, a wild pitch advanced Machado and Jurickson Profar struck out on an inside cutter.
Luis Campusano hit a bouncer over third base that got under Max Muncy’s glove and went down the line for an RBI double and a 4-0 lead. Tyler Wade hit a run-scoring single to right and rookie Jackson Merrill struck out on an inside curveball.
The Dodgers allowed five runs in the first inning just one time last season.
Yamamoto was a two-time Pacific League MVP for the Orix Buffaloes. He signed his deal with the Dodgers in December, the largest amount guaranteed to a pitcher.
