Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Los Angeles Dodgers' $325 million starting pitcher, was given the ball in the club's biggest contest of the season, a winner-take-all Game 5 in the National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres on Friday night.
Yamamoto, who struggled in Game 1 of the series, was up to the task, as he pitched five shutout innings en route to the Dodgers' 2-0 win, a victory that advanced to the club to the National League Championship Series for the first time since 2021.
And Yamamoto's teammate and fellow countryman Shohei Ohtani was so proud of him.
Television cameras spotted Ohtani good-naturedly patting Yamamoto on the head after he was pulled from the game.
Shohei Ohtani was so proud to see Yoshinobu Yamamoto after he pitched 5 scoreless innings.
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) October 12, 2024
From coming up in Japan together to playing for the greatest baseball team in the world, this is what baseball is all about 💪
pic.twitter.com/AyTIy6Tf1x
What a moment. And it wasn't the only memorable moment between the two Dodgers stars, who seemed to debut an amusing handshake.
wait for it 🦖 pic.twitter.com/dbPoNJsrNw
— MLB (@MLB) October 12, 2024
And then had the time of their lives celebrating the Dodgers' victory.
Live look at Shohei and Yamamoto in the Dodgers clubhouse: pic.twitter.com/26t20K799q
— MLB (@MLB) October 12, 2024
As long as the Dodgers keep on winning, there are likely to be more memorable moments authored by Ohtani and Yamamoto. Los Angeles will take on the New York Mets in Game 1 of the NLCS on Sunday at 8:15 p.m. ET.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto Shared Sweet Moment During Dodgers' Win.
