Dodgers complete a sweep of the Nationals behind stellar pitching performance from the team.
In a low-scoring affair, the Dodgers managed to secure a 2-1 victory to complete a sweep of the Nationals in Washington. Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivered a solid performance, supported by a resilient bullpen that held up under pressure in the late innings.
Yamamoto faced a formidable challenge, acclimating to a new league while shouldering the weight of a significant contract and contending with injuries within the rotation. Thursday’s game exemplified the type of scenario he was brought in to navigate.
After relying less on his fastball against the Mets, Yamamoto reverted to it against the Nationals, effectively locating it mostly down in the zone for called strikes (15 in total). Unlike his previous outing where he struggled with hard-hit balls, this time he managed to limit the Nationals’ solid contact, allowing only three hard-hit balls over six innings of shutout baseball. Additionally, Yamamoto showcased his defensive prowess with an instinctual catch on a sharply hit line drive back up the middle.
Yamamoto’s shutout performance was crucial, as the Dodgers’ offense faced difficulties against Mackenzie Gore, particularly with runners in scoring position. Despite getting multiple runners on base against Gore, the Dodgers struggled to capitalize, with only one runner crossing the plate in six instances of runners in scoring position. Freddie Freeman’s eighth-inning hit to drive in Mookie Betts provided a much-needed insurance run, extending the lead to 2-0.
Questions surrounding the depth of the Dodgers’ bullpen early in the season, exacerbated by Brusdar Graterol’s absence and struggles from Ryan Brasier and Joe Kelly, have been looming. However, Alex Vesia’s confident performance in the seventh inning, tallying three strikeouts and neutralizing a potential threat, suggests a potential resurgence. Additionally, Evan Phillips, despite a shaky outing earlier in the week, showcased his command and dominance by efficiently closing out the game with two strikeouts in a flawless 1-2-3 inning.
