Yoshinobu Yamamoto did more than just pitch during the Dodgers’ 9-2 win over the Angels, he put his name alongside a rare Gregg Maddux achievement with another display of ruthless control.
While the Dodgers’ bats did most of the damage, Yamamoto’s performance stood out for its historic significance. He retired the final 22 batters he faced, a stretch of dominance that can easily get lost in such a one-sided scoreline.
But this was not just another clean start. It put Yamamoto in the same conversation as one of baseball’s smartest pitchers.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto matches Gregg Maddux with Dodgers dominance
According to OptaSTATS, Yamamoto and Maddux are the only pitchers in the last 50 years to retire the final 20 batters of a game three separate times.
That is an incredible level of late-game control. It was not just that Yamamoto settled in, he completely shut down the Angels once he found his groove.
His numbers backed it up. Yamamoto threw eight innings, gave up two hits, one earned run and no walks, striking out four over 93 pitches.
The no-walks part is key. Retiring 20 straight hitters is impressive enough, but doing it without allowing a single free pass highlights the kind of precision that makes the Maddux comparison feel natural.
Dodgers offense powers Angels rout as Yamamoto controls game
The Dodgers beat the Angels 9-2 on June 6, with Yamamoto’s eight-inning gem giving Los Angeles complete control of the matchup.
Yamamoto allowed just two hits, one earned run and no walks while striking out four across 93 pitches. More importantly, he retired the final 22 Angels hitters he faced.
That is where the Maddux comparison becomes meaningful. This was not just a good start in a comfortable Dodgers win, it was another example of Yamamoto taking a game and removing every route back for the opponent.
The offense gave him breathing room, but Yamamoto made sure the Angels never turned the night into a contest. Once he settled in, the game became a reminder of how quickly elite command can suffocate a lineup.
For the Dodgers, that is the bigger takeaway. A 9-2 win helps the standings, but Yamamoto matching a Gregg Maddux-level marker says even more about the level he is reaching.
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