Yoshinobu Yamamoto leaves game early before Dodgers fall to Royals
LOS ANGELES — Yoshinobu Yamamoto left the Dodgers’ 7-2 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Saturday because of what the team described as triceps tightness after throwing two scoreless innings.
Yamamoto’s fastball did not seem nearly as crisp in the second inning, and there was an increased use of sliders and curveballs to get through it.
The SportsNet LA television broadcast showed a replay of pitching coach Mark Prior flagging down manager Dave Roberts and bringing him back to the locker room in the bottom half of the inning.
Right-hander Michael Grove replaced Yamamoto, who allowed one hit and one walk while striking out one, to start the third.
Yamamoto, 25, is in the first season of a potential 12-year, $325 million contract after the Dodgers won the bidding war for the Japanese right-hander. He had a 6-2 record with a 3.00 ERA in 13 starts for the Dodgers coming into Saturday.
Yamamoto’s start had been pushed back after throwing seven scoreless innings but not factoring in the decision of a 2-1 win at the New York Yankees on June 7.
The Dodgers had been planning to use a six-man rotation next week with right-hander Bobby Miller set to return from inflammation in his right shoulder that has kept him sidelined since April 10, but that could be scuttled depending on Yamamoto’s availability.
Blake Treinen (2-1) gave up a full count, two-out grand slam to MJ Melendez in the sixth to put the Royals back up 5-2 on the 12th pitch of the at-bat.
Anthony Banda was tagged for two more runs in the seventh, with the Royals picking up insurance on a RBI single by Bobby Witt Jr. and Nelson Velázquez’s sacrifice fly.
Gavin Lux hit a two-run single in the bottom of the fourth off Seth Lugo (10-2), putting the Dodgers in front after Grove gave up an RBI single to Nick Loftin in the top of the inning.
Cavan Biggio went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts in his Dodgers debut after being acquired in a trade from the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday to help manage the extended absence of third baseman Max Muncy (strained oblique).
More to come on this story.