Yoshinobu Yamamoto endured a bumpy final tuneup as the Los Angeles Dodgers lost 8-1 to the Seattle Mariners in their final Cactus League game of the year.
Even with the loss, the Dodgers finished 13-5-1 in Cactus League games.
Yamamoto began his final start by striking out the side in the first inning and retiring eight of the first nine batters faced. However, the Mariners then made a collective adjustment and wound up swinging early in counts.
That resulted in four consecutive base hits to open the fourth inning, which put the Dodgers in a 2-0 deficit. Yamamoto then allowed two more runs in the fifth inning.
In his three Cactus League starts, Yamamoto allowed nine runs (all earned) and collected 14 strikeouts over 9.2 innings pitched. Next for the right-hander is starting the second game of the Seoul Series on March 21.
The Dodgers considered Yamamoto for their Opening Day game but manager Dave Roberts explained rest days factored into the decision of instead going with Tyler Glasnow in the season opener.
There was little to speak of from the Dodgers lineup, with Austin Barnes responsible for their lone run. Barnes got the Dodgers on the board in the fourth inning with an RBI double to left field that carried over Taylor Trammell’s head.
Gavin Lux went 0-for-3 in his return to the lineup after being sent home Tuesday due to being under the weather. Max Muncy remained out because of a similar illness, but he and Lux are expected to be part of the Dodgers’ travel roster for South Korea.
Will Smith scratched from Dodgers lineup
Will Smith was a late scratch from the Dodgers lineup due to lower back tightness. It’s not considered a serious injury, but it could become problematic as the Dodgers are due to be on a long flight bound for South Korea.
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