Yoshinobu Yamamoto achieves 100 combined wins in Japan and MLB over a decade, says blowout games are more memorable.

In today's away game against the New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers' Japanese star pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivered a quality start, allowing just 1 run over 6 innings. The Dodgers beat the Mets 4-3 to extend their winning streak to four games. Yamamoto collected his 11th win of the season, marking his 100th career win across both Japanese and American professional baseball.

After the game, Yamamoto admitted that he hadn't found his ideal feel from the bullpen warm-up. "From the bullpen, I didn't have the feel I wanted. This situation is not uncommon, so I just used what I had at that moment and tried to get each out." He also said he was more cautious than usual during the game but never fully controlled the rhythm.

Yamamoto believes the biggest takeaway from this game was not the velocity or strikeouts, but the ability to minimize damage when not at his best. He said: "Of course, it would have been ideal to pitch better in the inning where I gave up a run. But being able to limit the damage to 1 run over 6 innings even when I wasn't in good form, I think that shows my growth."

In seven seasons in NPB, Yamamoto had only 29 losses and 70 wins, with a winning percentage of .707 and an ERA of just 1.82. In three seasons in the US, he has accumulated 30 wins and 16 losses with a 2.70 ERA. Whether in Japan or on the MLB stage, he has consistently shown the level of a top-tier starting pitcher.

Regarding reaching 100 wins, Yamamoto said: "I've maintained a good state throughout this journey. 100 wins is something to be happy about, and I want to keep working hard moving forward." However, he admitted that he more often remembers the games where he pitched poorly and got blown out.

"Of course, it hasn't been easy along the way, and there have been many blowout losses. Surprisingly, those defeats have stayed in my memory." He believes that those bitter experiences have allowed him to constantly adjust and have become important nourishment for continuous improvement.

From his first career win to reaching 100 combined wins in Japan and the US, it took Yamamoto exactly ten seasons. He said that after graduating from high school, he entered professional baseball and experienced an adjustment period in the early years. Now he has gradually established himself in the starting rotation and hopes to continue accumulating wins in the future.

When asked about the possibility of challenging 150 or even 200 combined wins in the future, Yamamoto did not make bold claims but clearly expressed his goal of staying healthy for many years and remaining a stable presence in the starting rotation.

He said: "Now that I've reached 100 wins, I hope to speed up the pace and accumulate more wins. I want to maintain consistent performance every year and become a pitcher who always delivers quality outings."