Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Michael Kopech reacts after striking out San Diego Padres’ Jake Cronenworth during the eighth inning in Game 5 of a baseball NL Division Series. The Dodgers won 2-0 on Oct. 11, 2024, in Los Angeles.Ashley Landis/The Associated Press
Yoshinobu Yamamoto outdueled Yu Darvish in a historic playoff matchup of Japanese-born starters, and the Los Angeles Dodgers got home runs from Kike Hernandez and Teoscar Hernandez to beat the San Diego Padres 2-0 on Friday night and advance to the National League Championship Series.
Yamamoto allowed two hits over five innings for the Dodgers before being pulled after 63 pitches in a decisive Game 5 between heated rivals who were meeting in an NL Division Series for the third time in five years.
The Dodgers will play Pete Alonso and the New York Mets in the best-of-seven NLCS starting Sunday night in Los Angeles.
