Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivered an impressive performance over eight innings, while Max Muncy’s grand slam in the opening inning powered the Los Angeles Dodgers to an 8-2 victory against the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night, extending their winning streak to six games.
In addition to Muncy’s grand slam, Gavin Lux contributed his first home run of the season for the Dodgers, who have now won 13 of their last 15 games and smashed 14 home runs in their previous four games.
Despite surrendering a home run on the first pitch, Yamamoto rebounded strongly, securing his third consecutive win with a 4-1 record. The Japanese rookie, signed to a $325 million contract, allowed only two runs and five hits in his longest outing in the majors, throwing 97 pitches, just two shy of his season high.
Reflecting on his performance, Yamamoto emphasized his focus on helping the team win while keeping his pitch count low, highlighting the significance of securing a win for him.
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Jazz Chisholm Jr. managed a home run for the Marlins to kick off the game, but they struggled to gain momentum, winning only one out of their last four games on their current road trip. Bryan De La Cruz also contributed a home run for Miami.
Edward Cabrera, with a record of 1-2, had a short-lived appearance on the mound, pitching only two innings before exiting the game due to discomfort in his biceps. He struggled with control, walking four batters and hitting one with a pitch out of his 58 throws.
Marlins manager Skip Schumaker expressed frustration over the high number of free passes issued by Cabrera, emphasizing the consequences of falling behind in counts against formidable opponents like the Dodgers.
Cabrera’s struggles began early in the game when he hit Freddie Freeman with a pitch and walked Shohei Ohtani and Will Smith consecutively, loading the bases for Muncy’s grand slam, which barely cleared the left wall for his ninth home run of the season.
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The Dodgers capitalized further in the third inning, scoring four more runs after loading the bases again. Lux contributed with a two-run homer off George Soriano, marking his first home run since 2022, following his absence last season due to a knee injury.
Lux expressed his satisfaction with his performance, emphasizing the importance of simplicity in his approach, highlighting the unpredictability of baseball and his readiness to seize opportunities when they arise.
