Yoshinobu Yamamoto Outduels Sale As Dodgers Take 2-1 NLDS Lead

In a battle between two of the sport’s best pitchers, Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw an absolute gem to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers past Chris Sale and the Atlanta Braves 3-1 in a critical Game 3.

Yamamoto pitched seven innings, giving up just one earned run in the win, which was crucial compared to Sale, who, though he didn’t pitch badly, struggled to keep his pitch count down and hung two costly pitches to Freddie Freeman and Kike Hernandez.

Sale started his first two innings with six strikeouts, but a few long at-bats and baserunners put him way behind pace on pitch count. This led to Sale only getting to finish five innings before being pulled, leaving the Braves behind the eight ball for the rest of the game.

Yamamoto’s outing was stellar, not just because he got quick outs. He gave up just four hits and one walk while striking out 10 batters.

Freeman and Hernandez’ home runs were all the Dodgers needed, thanks to the starting pitcher, and accounted for all three runs. Hernandez’ two-run home run was immediately followed by Freeman’s solo shot, both coming in the fourth inning to break the scoreless tie.

The Dodgers are now one win away from another NLCS appearance under manager Dave Roberts, who is second all time in playoff wins.

Game 4 will be in Atlanta on Wednesday, with a starting-pitcher duel between two right-handers. Tyler Glasnow will throw for the Dodgers, and Tyler Mahle will start for Atlanta.

The Braves will need to take care of business at home tonight and then go to Los Angeles and win there to take the series, making last night’s game three all that much more of a stinger for Atlanta, who had their number one man on the mound.