Make California Post a Preferred Source The Dodgers relied on Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s pristine postseason pedigree in a critical game once again on Tuesday.
The 28-year-old Japanese hurler outdueled Braves ace Chris Sale in a pivotal Game 3 of the NLDS, throwing seven innings, giving up one earned run and totaling 10 strikeouts. Los Angeles secured a 3-1 win to go up 2-1 in the best-of-five series.
Yamamoto and the Dodgers’ day might have ended differently if not for a vulgar intervention from Kiké Hernández.
The Athletic’s Katie Woo wrote an article on Tuesday night that included an anecdote from Yamamoto about when Hernández (who homered in the 3-1 win) and Dodgers catcher Will Smith made a mound visit after the Braves loaded the bases in the fifth inning.
Hernández could be seen whispering something to Yamamoto at the end of the discussion, prompting a nod from the pitcher.
Yamamoto clearly took inspiration from whatever Hernández said, as he got two straight groundouts to end the inning.
After the game, Yamamoto said Hernández used a “dirty word.”
He wouldn’t shed light on what this word was, only reiterating that it was “very” dirty.
Hernández’s “dirty word” may never become public knowledge. But whatever it is, Dodgers fans are happy Yamamoto now knows it.
