"We couldn't get Yu Darvish any support" - Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr. express disappointment after Padres' NLDS Game 5 loss to Dodgers
The San Diego Padres were eliminated from the 2024 MLB postseason on Friday. The Friars were edged out by the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of the National League Division Series with a 2-0 score line. The latter will now advance to the NLCS for a meeting with the scorching-hot New York Mets.
The Padres just couldn't get past the mercurial Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who pitched five innings of two-hit ball, issuing no runs, and walking just one San Diego batter. Meanwhile, Yu Darvish produced a six-and-two-thirds inning output of three hits, two earned runs, a sole walk and four strikeouts.
After the game, San Diego All-Stars Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. shared their thoughts about the batting lineup's tough outing. The third baseman praised Darvish while also acknowledging the lack of firepower at the plate during last night's game.
"We couldn't get [Yu Darvish] any [run] support," Machado said.
In addition, Tatis had nothing but positive things to say about their ace and pointed out that the pitcher's performance kept them within shouting distance of the Dodgers.
"He was amazing, electric...kept us in the game," Tatis said.
The Padres' batting lineup, which boasted four National League All-Stars this year, could only muster up two hits against the tough pitching from the Dodgers' hurling crew. The two hits surrendered by Yamamoto were all the offense that San Diego could come up with, as it was held hitless by the opposing team's bullpen.
Historic night for Japanese baseball in Game 5 of Padres-Dodgers
For the first time in MLB history, two Japanese-born starters went head-to-head in the league's playoffs. It was a clash between Japanese aces as the Padres' Yu Darvish faced off against the Dodgers' Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Both pitchers had decorated careers in their home country, with the common denominators being a Pacific League MVP and an Eiji Sawamura Award—the equivalent of the Cy Young Award in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.
Before taking his talents stateside, Yu Darvish led the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters to a Japan Series title in 2006. He was the Pacific League's MVP twice, an ERA title winner twice, a strikeout title winner thrice and was selected to the NPB All-Star team five times.
On the other side of the spectrum, Yoshinobu Yamamoto led his Orix Buffaloes to the 2022 Japan Series championship. He was selected to five NPB All-Star teams, won the Pacific League MVP thrice and won the Japanese Triple Crown three times from 2021 to 2023, which led him to being named as the Eiji Sawamura awardee in the same time span.