Yamamoto allows just one run on four hits in seven innings in a 5-2 win. Shohei Ohtani doubles in two runs and Teoscar Hernandez drives in two with singles.
There is a legend from the Dodgers’ offense-deficient days in the 1960s of a fan (or one of the Dodgers themselves, versions vary) greeting another with the news that Sandy Koufax had thrown another no-hitter.
“Did they win?” the other fan asks warily.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto could relate to that punchline. The Dodgers’ offense has often been unsupportive on nights when he has pitched this season – enough to wonder the same thing when he held the Cincinnati Reds to one run on four hits Monday night.
They did win. A two-run double by Shohei Ohtani and a pair of RBI singles by Teoscar Hernandez provided more offense than Yamamoto usually gets in a 5-2 victory over the Reds.
Through his 21 starts this season, the Dodgers have managed three runs or fewer 11 times. During his 20 starts before Monday, they pushed across just 33 of those runs while he was in the game.
