CHICAGO — Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched five scoreless innings out of two early games for his first career major league win, Max Muncy hit a two-run single and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Chicago Cubs 4-1 on Saturday.
Shohei Ohtani had two hits and reached base three times to help the Dodgers improve to 8-3 with their fifth win in six games.
what you should Know
- Cody Bellinger had two of Chicago’s seven hits against his former team as the Cubs snapped their five-game winning streak
- Yamamoto (1-1) pitched a no-hitter with the bases loaded in the first inning
- There was a standing-room-only crowd to see the Cubs play Ohtani and the Dodgers in a cool, sunny late-afternoon game
- Yamamoto, who signed a record 12-year, $325 million deal with the Dodgers in the offseason, retired the last nine batters he faced. He struck out eight while allowing about three hits and two walks
There was a standing-room-only crowd to see the Cubs play Ohtani and the Dodgers in a cool, sunny late afternoon game.
Cody Bellinger had two of Chicago’s seven hits against his former team as the Cubs snapped their five-game hitting streak.
Yamamoto (1-1) pitched a no-hitter with the bases loaded in the first inning. After allowing a leadoff double to Ian Happ, a walk to Seiya Suzuki and a single to Cody Bellinger. Yamamoto bounced back with a side kick. He struck out Christopher Morrell on three straight curveballs, had Swanson looking with a fastball and Bush looking with a curveball on his 27th pitch. In the second inning, he got out of another bases-loaded jam after Max Muncy failed to handle Suzuki’s fly ball at third with two outs. Yamamoto iced Bellinger with a curveball to end the inning.
Yamamoto, who signed a record 12-year, $325 million deal with the Dodgers in the offseason, retired the last nine batters he faced. He struck out eight while allowing about three hits and two walks. He pitched 10 scoreless innings after allowing just three strikeouts in his major league debut on March 21, allowing five runs, four hits and a walk in a 15-11 season-opening loss to San Diego in South Korea.
Relievers Ryan Brassier, Joe Kelly and Daniel Hudson backed up Yamamoto with three scoreless innings. Evan Phillips allowed a single to Dansby Swanson and a double to Michael Bush. Swanson scored on Miles Mastrobuoni. Phillips closed out the game by striking out Happ with runners on first and second.
The Dodgers broke through in the fifth inning. Austin Barnes led off with a leadoff single, and one out later, Ohtani singled. Cubs starter Jordan Weeks struck out Freddie Freeman and was lifted for reliever Jose Quas. Quas walks Teoscar Hernandez. During Muncie’s at-bat, Quass threw a bunt, allowing Barnes to score, and then Muncie followed with a two-run single off the right-field wall to give Yamamoto and the Dodgers a 3-0 lead.
Weeks (0-1) allowed two runs on six hits with one walk. He struck out seven and threw a career-high 100 pitches.
Miguel Rojas added a run in the eighth inning for the Dodgers with an RBI single.
Suzuki prevailed over Ohtani in the opener of a weekend series featuring four of Japan’s top players in the majors. Ohtani hit a two-run homer in his first career game at Wrigley Field on Friday, but Suzuki had a two-run double during Chicago’s five-run second inning.
Shota Imanaga makes his second start for Chicago on Sunday.
Coach’s room
Dodgers: Before the game, the Dodgers called up RHP Gus Varland and designated RHP Dinelson Lament for assignment. “(DFAs) are always difficult but he (Lament) was very grateful for the opportunity and I was very happy to have for the time we did. We hope to see him again,” Roberts said. Varland, 27, allowed two runs in 3 2/3 innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City in relief.
Next up
Imanaga (1-0, 0.00 ERA) threw six scoreless innings in a win over Colorado on Monday. The Japanese lefty faces Dodgers righty Gavin Stone (0-0, 5.40 ERA).
