Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto spoke at a team press conference on June 21, 2026, reflecting on a rough inning in which he allowed two runs.
Yamamoto said during the press conference that the inning was not good pitching overall, pointing to multiple compounding factors. "There were a lot of things to reflect on in that inning," he stated, acknowledging both the runners he allowed and the timely hit he surrendered. He noted that loading the bases and then giving up the timely hit were equally problematic, adding that each mistake had a cause that led directly to the runs allowed.
Yamamoto also acknowledged control issues, explaining that he fell behind in counts on multiple occasions and was unable to put batters away after reaching two strikes. A reporter noted that his pitch count had reached around 39 pitches by the fourth or fifth inning. Despite the difficult stretch, Yamamoto mentioned he did record a swinging strikeout — likely on his fastest pitch of the day — to escape a bases-loaded situation with two outs.
He described facing a varied opposing lineup, with some batters marking his splitter while others swung aggressively, requiring him to probe and adjust throughout the game. The outing came on the heels of a previous start in which he came close to pitching a perfect game, and Yamamoto acknowledged the contrast directly. "There are games like this," he added. "Baseball is hard."
Yamamoto emphasized that maintaining physical condition through sleep and diet — the basics of daily life — is the foundation for sustaining performance as the 2026 season progresses. He indicated he intends to review the June 21 game carefully and apply the lessons to his next start, noting that small mistakes compound into bad-inning pitching and runs allowed.