SEOUL, South Korea — Yoshinobu Yamamoto lasted one inning in his debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers after signing a record $325 million, 12-year contract, allowing five runs in a 15-11 loss to the San Diego Padres on Thursday.
The 25-year-old right-hander trailed 2-0 after nine pitches and needed 43 pitches to get three outs, leaving with a 45.00 ERA.
San Diego batted and Michael Grove relieved Yamamoto with the Dodgers trailing 5-1.
“I regret that I couldn't keep the team in the game from the beginning, so I feel the responsibility for that,” Yamamoto said through an interpreter. “I just have to get ready for the next outing.”
Yamamoto (0-1) allowed four hits, walked one, hit a batter and threw a wild pitch. He threw just 23 pitches for strikes, averaging 95.4 mph with his fastball. He tried 14 fastballs, 11 cutters, 10 curves and eight splitters.
Xander Bogaerts singled to left field on his first pitch, a 96.6 mph fastball over the heart of the plate. Fernando Tatis Jr. was hit by a full-count splitter and Jake Cronenworth tripled into the right field corner for a 2-0 lead.
Manny Machado walked, bringing pitching coach Mark Prior to the mound after 15 pitches.
Ha-Seong Kim hit a sacrifice fly, a wild pitch advanced Machado and Jurickson Profar struck out on an inside cutter.
Luis Campusano hit a rebound over third base that got under Max Muncy's glove and down the line for an RBI double and a 4-0 lead. Tyler Wade hit an RBI single to right field and rookie Jackson Merrill struck out on an inside curveball.
The Dodgers allowed five runs in the first inning just once last season.
Yamamoto was a two-time Pacific League MVP in Japan for the Orix Buffaloes. He signed his contract with the Dodgers in December, the largest amount guaranteed to a pitcher.
“He just didn't have control and that's why it's not about the material,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “When you're a commanding guy, like he's been his whole career, his life, and you just miss, fall behind in counts, hit hitters, that's not who he is… He's an easy guy that “You know. He will recover from this.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
