Dodgers can’t overcome Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s disastrous debut

SEOUL, South Korea – Major League Baseball will probably come back to South Korea some day. But first the drummers who pounded away in the cheering sections throughout the Seoul Series finale might be going in for labrum surgery.

The Dodgers and San Diego Padres kept them working throughout the game Thursday night, putting up runs Gangnam style. Mookie Betts drove in six himself with four hits, including the first home run hit in the Seoul-sucking Gocheok Sky Dome. Jake Cronenworth for the Padres and Will Smith for the Dodgers also had four-hit games.

But the Dodgers’ pitching – and worrisome left-side defense – gave it back just as quickly, allowing the Padres to hold on for a 15-11 victory.

“You have to be able to do all three phases, pitch, defense and hit. And sometimes – it is what it is,” Betts said. “We’re all out there fighting and doing the best we can and sometimes you mess up. It kind of is what it is and you have to turn the page and keep it moving.”

MLB’s first regular-season visit to Korea resulted in a split Seoul Series after seven Dodgers pitchers gave up 17 hits and hit three batters and walked six. Third baseman Max Muncy committed two of the team’s three errors and misplays on the left side led to four runs.

Hyped as a potential ‘super team’ when they arrived in Korea, the Dodgers left trailed by a gambling scandal and looking far from a finished product.

“On the offensive side — a lot of good things,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “On the pitching side, it just wasn’t very good. Across the board, we just didn’t execute. I think eight, nine walks in there. And defensively, we weren’t good either. You’re just not gonna prevent runs that way.”

Yoshinobu Yamamoto might have the most difficult time getting his ERA through customs.

The most expensive pitcher in baseball history has 12 years to justify the $325 million contract the Dodgers gave him last winter. His debut Thursday night was not the opening statement the Dodgers wanted.

Yamamoto lasted just one inning, allowing five runs in a career launch that was painful to watch. His first pitch as a major-leauger was ripped for a single by Xander Bogaerts (105.4 mph off the bat). After the right-hander hit Fernando Tatis Jr. with a pitch, Jake Cronenworth tripled into the right-field corner to drive in two runs (102.9 mph off the bat).

Yamamoto walked Manny Machado, drawing a visit from pitching coach Mark Prior. He did retire the next two batters but took 43 pitches to get out of the inning, allowing four hits, walking one batter, hitting another and throwing a wild pitch.

The only thing he didn’t do was give away the Hyundai offered to the first player to hit a home run in this series.

“I feel regret that I just couldn’t keep the team in the game from the get-go,” Yamamoto said through his interpreter, denying that nerves in his debut played a part. “So I do feel a responsibility for it. Like I said, I just have to get ready for the next outing.”

Yamamoto said he was having difficulty executing pitches out of the stretch — a serious problem since he was pitching out of the stretch for 42 of his 43 pitches. Yamamoto was guilty of tipping his pitches during his Cactus League starts but catcher Will Smith said the right-hander had “cleaned it up as far as we know.”

“I can’t point to any one reason. It sucked. A five-spot early,” Smith said.

“They were kind of on everything a little bit. We fell behind some. They just executed. They just moved the ball forward, found some holes and got guys in.”

But Yamamoto wasn’t alone in his struggles. Of the 13 pitchers used by the two teams, only Padres left-hander Yuki Matsui and Dodgers right-hander Gus Varland escaped without giving up a run. Each recorded two outs in a three-hour, 42-minute display that must have made local fans feel better about the state of pitching in the KBO.

The Dodgers’ defense left much to be desired as well. Muncy was charged with two errors. Another ground ball down the line that got by him was scored a double. James Outman drew an error when he threw to an uncovered first base.

“He’s worked his tail off, the physical part of it — coming in early, getting a routine down, working with Dino (Ebel),” said Roberts who praised Muncy throughout spring training for that effort. “Certainly tonight wasn’t indicative of what’s going to happen going forward. But obviously there’s plays that need to be made, for sure.”

The Dodgers kept coming back, thanks primarily to Betts and Will Smith, who had four hits and two RBI and got within a run, 12-11, after Betts’ two-run single in the eighth. But Manny Machado put the game away with a three-run home run off J.P. Feyereisen in the top of the ninth.

“It’s been a long week, but there are no excuses,” said Betts as the team headed to the airport for the 12-hour return flight. “It’s been a great experience. It’s been awesome being here and getting a chance to see a new culture.

“But it is what it is. You have to show up no matter the cards you’re dealt.”