Baseball: Yamamoto gem paves way for Dodgers to beat Giants in extras
Yamamoto, who lasted just two-thirds of an inning in Monday's loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, outdueled San Francisco's Robbie Ray in a battle of All-Star pitchers at Oracle Park.
The Japanese ace struck out seven and scattered three hits and two walks in a dominant afternoon on the mound.
He exited with the Dodgers leading 2-0 but did not factor in the result after the Giants sent the game to extras with two runs in the bottom of the ninth.
Freddie Freeman drove in the go-ahead run in a three-run 11th for the Dodgers, who finished the first half of the season with back-to-back wins after snapping a seven-game losing streak.
Shohei Ohtani batted 1-for-3 with two runs and two walks.
"I was able to pitch solidly for seven innings and I'm glad the team won," Yamamoto said. "The first half of the season was very fulfilling. It went by so quickly."
In other MLB action, fellow Samurai Japan pitcher Shota Imanaga (6-3) also excelled, striking out six and scattering two hits and a walk in seven innings of one-run ball for the Chicago Cubs in their 4-1 victory over the New York Yankees.
The Japanese southpaw was a picture of efficiency, getting through his seven frames in 91 pitches, 55 for strikes, at one point retiring 11 consecutive hitters.
"I was able to do exactly what I wanted to do and needed to do," Imanaga said. "I didn't want to give up a home run or long hit when there were runners on base. The innings seemed to progress smoothly, but I couldn't let my guard down for a moment."
Seiya Suzuki went 2-for-5 with a run as the No. 3 batter in Chicago's lineup.
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