NEW YORK - Yoshinobu Yamamoto picked up his first complete-game win in the MLB regular season Sunday, holding the New York Yankees to two runs on four hits as the Los Angeles Dodgers prevailed 8-2 in the first game of their doubleheader.
Yamamoto (10-6) reached double figures in wins for the second straight year as he struck out seven while issuing no walks in an efficient 102-pitch effort at Yankee Stadium, where he was perfect through the first three innings.
The right-hander, who had two complete-game wins last postseason, gave up a solo home run to Trent Grisham to open the bottom of the fourth as the Yankees cut the deficit to 2-1, but he retired the next nine batters straight.
Shohei Ohtani, who doubled in the opening run in the third, singled in another in the five-run eighth as the Dodgers led 8-1. Yamamoto allowed a double to begin both the seventh and eighth, surrendering a run in the latter, but had no trouble going the distance.
"It's great I was able to go through nine innings on a day of a doubleheader," Yamamoto said. "I managed to throw without the unnecessary strain. I focused on keeping my pitches low more than usual."
Manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani, who is treating a nagging irritation in his left knee, will skip his scheduled pitching start on Wednesday.
Shota Imanaga also picked up a win after tossing seven shutout innings on six hits in the Chicago Cubs' 10-1 rout of the Minnesota Twins.
Imanaga (6-8), who was given a 10-0 lead by the fourth as the Cubs' offense erupted against Zebby Matthews (4-7), fanned four and walked one while getting out of a two-on jam in the sixth.
"It was the third game of the series, and I've taken measures watching the first two," the left-hander said. "I'm in my third year in the majors and I'm pitching thinking not just from the pitcher's point of view but also from the batter's."
Yuki Matsui (1-1) earned his first win of the season after throwing two perfect innings in relief in the San Diego Padres' 19-2 mauling of the Kansas City Royals.
