Yoshinobu Yamamoto Dominates Reds, Strikes Out Nine as Dodgers Advance to NLDS

Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivered a stellar performance, striking out nine batters and pitching into the seventh inning, as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Cincinnati Reds 8-4 on Wednesday night to sweep the Wild Card Series and advance to the National League Division Series. Yamamoto allowed two runs on four hits and walked two, throwing a career-high 113 pitches. After the Reds took an early 2-0 lead in the first, Yamamoto retired the next 13 batters and later escaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the sixth with back-to-back swinging strikeouts. He received two standing ovations from the crowd of 50,465. Despite a dropped ball by Teoscar Hernández in the first that cost him a scoreless inning, Yamamoto's outing was crucial in securing the Dodgers' spot against the Phillies in the NLDS, which begins Saturday in Philadelphia. The Dodgers' offense broke the game open with a four-run sixth inning, complementing Yamamoto's strong start.