‘Wow’ Yamamoto pitches 7 innings, 10 strikeouts — incredible! Kim Ha-seong sees just one pitch before being substituted → Kim Hye-seong sits out again… LAD beats ATL, takes NLDS lead 1-0

*This content was translated by AI.

With Kim Ha-seong (31, Atlanta Braves) being substituted out after just one at-bat and seeing only one pitch, the LA Dodgers secured a commanding position behind the strong pitching of Japanese right-handed pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (28). They are now just one win away from advancing to the National League Championship Series (NLCS).

The Dodgers defeated Atlanta 3-1 in Game 3 of the National League Division Series (NLDS) of Major League Baseball (MLB), held at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, on the 7th (Korean time).

On this day, the Dodgers set their lineup as Mookie Betts (shortstop)-Freddie Freeman (first baseman)-Teoscar Hernandez (left fielder)-Will Smith (catcher)-Shohei Ohtani (designated hitter)-Miguel Rojas (second baseman)-Andy Pages (center fielder)-Kyle Tucker (right fielder)-Kike Hernandez (third baseman). Yoshinobu Yamamoto started on the mound.

Facing them, Atlanta countered with Drake Baldwin (catcher)-Ronald Acuna Jr. (designated hitter)-Matt Olson (first baseman)-Oz Albies (second baseman)-Michael Harris II (center fielder)-Mauricio Dubon (left fielder)-Lane Thomas (right fielder)-Austin Riley (third baseman)-Kim Ha-seong (shortstop). Left-handed pitcher Chris Sale took the mound as the starter.

Ultimately, the Dodgers succeeded in seizing the early advantage against ‘ace’ Sale on this day. Two home runs proved decisive. In the top of the 4th inning with one out and a runner on first base, Kike Hernandez attacked Sale’s second pitch, an 88.9 mph changeup, drawing a lead-off two-run homer over the left-field fence. Betts grounded out to third base, but Freeman immediately hit Sale’s second pitch, a 95.7 mph sinker, launching a go-ahead solo home run. It was Freeman’s home run in consecutive games.

Atlanta launched a counterattack in the bottom of the 5th inning. Consecutive hits by Dubon and Thomas created a bases-loaded opportunity with no outs and runners on first and second base. After Riley struck out, Kim Ha-seong came to bat with one out and runners on first and second. However, the Atlanta bench made the decision to substitute Kim Ha-seong for pinch hitter Raudy Read. In his first at-bat in the bottom of the 3rd inning with one out, Kim Ha-seong attacked Yamamoto’s first pitch, a 96.1 mph four-seam fastball, but grounded out to left field. He was ultimately substituted out bitterly after seeing only one pitch in his second at-bat.

Pinch hitter Read drew a straight walk, extending the opportunity to bases loaded, and Baldwin’s infield grounder allowed the runner on third base to score, recovering one run. However, with two outs and runners on second and third, Acuna Jr. grounded out to second base, and Atlanta failed to add further runs.

In the bottom of the 9th inning, closer Edwin Diaz faced a bases-loaded threat after allowing a double to leadoff hitter Albies, resulting in no outs and a runner on second base. However, after inducing Harris II to ground out to second base, he caught Dubon with a foul fly to right field with one out and a runner on third base. He then induced pinch hitter Mike Yastrzemski to ground out to shortstop, putting the final period on a two-run victory.

Dodgers starter Yamamoto delivered a dominant performance of 7 innings, 4 hits allowed, 1 walk, 10 strikeouts, and 1 run allowed, becoming the key contributor to the team’s victory. Yamamoto’s 10 strikeouts mark the third-highest record in Major League postseason history for a Japanese pitcher, following Hideo Nomo (11) in Game 2 of the 2012 ALCS and Ohtani in Game 4 of the 2025 NLCS. In contrast, Atlanta starter Sale took the loss with 5 innings pitched, 3 hits allowed (including 2 home runs), 7 strikeouts, and 3 runs allowed. On the offensive side, Ohtani, who was placed in the No. 5 spot in the batting order for the first time in six years since 2020, recorded no hits in two at-bats and one walk.

Meanwhile, it was a game that left deep regret for Korean players. Kim Ha-seong was substituted after just one at-bat, extending his hitless silence in this postseason to four games. Dodgers’ Kim Hye-seong also remained on the bench. Kim Hye-seong had been expected to serve mainly as a pinch runner and late-game specialist after making the roster for this fall baseball, but he sat out again without stepping onto the field even once during all three games of this Division Series.

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*This content was translated by AI.