Just over five months after Yoshinobu Yamamoto spurned the Yankees for the Dodgers, the Japanese ace stuck it to them again.
He showed the Yankees exactly what they’re missing out on.
Yamamoto was dominant Friday night, tossing seven shutout innings while giving up just two hits and two walks with seven strikeouts, during the Dodgers’ 2-1 win in 11 innings.
He lowered his season ERA to 3.00.
“I did know this matchup was going to draw a lot of attention compared to the other [games],” Yamamoto said through an interpreter. “I was just trying to do what I’ve been doing, just like other games.”
Despite the Yankees entering red hot amid an eight-game winning streak, Yamamoto had no issue breezing through an offense that came into the game as the highest scoring in MLB.
The Yankees had averaged 6.5 runs per game and owned a .812 combined OPS during that stretch, but Yamamoto hardly ran into any trouble, allowing just two runners to reach scoring position.
Yamamoto didn’t have to deal with Juan Soto, though, who is day-to-day with left forearm inflammation.
“He’s been really successful,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of Yamamoto. “Obviously, he came over with a lot of expectations. Signs a massive contract and was a very coveted guy this winter, was very much talked about in the news, people know about him. He’s that guy, people want to do their best against him. He’s come over here and answered what I think a lot of people expected, and that’s not always easy.”
The Yankees aggressively pursued Yamamoto this past offseason.
After starring in Japan, Yamamoto became one of the most intriguing and most sought-after free agent pitchers in league history — before he had thrown a pitch in MLB.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman flew to Japan in September to watch and scout Yamamoto, and he subsequently threw a no-hitter while pitching for the Orix Buffaloes.
During free agency, Cashman and team brass — including Boone, owner Hal Steinbrenner, president Randy Levine and pitching coach Matt Blake — traveled to Los Angeles to meet with Yamamoto before meeting with him again locally just a week later, according to The Post’s Jon Heyman.
But Yamamoto, 25, signed a 12-year contract worth $325 million with the Dodgers, though the deal includes heavy deferrals.
The Yankees offered Yamamoto a 10-year deal worth $300 million, according to Heyman — $25 million less than what the Dodgers were prepared to shell out, though at a higher average annual value with two fewer years.
“The Yankees are a great team,” Yamamoto said. “I appreciate their interest in me during free-agency negotiations. … But when I faced them [tonight], it was just like a normal game.”
The Yankees haven’t exactly stumbled without him — they entered Friday with the second-lowest starters ERA in MLB.
But Yamamoto has looked every bit worth the money for the Dodgers.
“I enjoyed the atmosphere,” Yamamoto said. “It’s a great stadium. I enjoyed the whole game.”
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