LOS ANGELES - Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who secured his spot in the upcoming Major League Baseball All-Star Game for the second consecutive year, earned his ninth win of the season as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the San Diego Padres 3-0 on Saturday.
Yamamoto (9-5) threw seven scoreless innings, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out 10 at Dodger Stadium. Dodgers relievers completed the combined shutout.
The right-hander has been named as one of the National League pitchers for Tuesday's All-Star Game, joining his teammate Shohei Ohtani, who became the top vote-getter among all MLB players as a designated hitter.
However, the reigning World Series MVP is unlikely to make an appearance in the game in Philadelphia, as was the case last year, following his start on Saturday, according to MLB.com.
Ohtani did not appear on Saturday after exiting the previous day's game with tightness in his right biceps.
Elsewhere, Colorado Rockies pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano did not make his scheduled start on Saturday against the San Francisco Giants due to back spasms, which forced his club to place him on the 15-day injured list.
"It can't be helped," Sugano said in Denver. "I don't really consider it an injury, so I'll just focus on getting ready for (the games) after the All-Star."
The 36-year-old is 8-4 with a 4.80 ERA in 16 starts during his second MLB season.
In other MLB action, Shota Imanaga took the loss after giving up two runs in the Chicago Cubs' 3-0 defeat to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Imanaga (5-7) surrendered four hits, including a leadoff homer on the first pitch, and three walks, while fanning eight over 4-2/3 innings at Wrigley Field.
