WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: POOL B - JAPAN VS AUSTRALIA

March 12, 2023

Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Tokyo Dome

Team Japan

Postgame Press Conference

Japan 7, Australia 1

Q. First, tell us about tonight's game against Australia.

YOSHINOBU YAMAMOTO: At the beginning, we scored first. So that made me feel comfortable pitching against them.

Q. This is the first opportunity for you to show what you can do to the world, this is your first international match experience. How do you feel?

YOSHINOBU YAMAMOTO: I've got a lot of good pitches as well as some bad things, but more important thing is I didn't give up any runs and lead the team to the win. That's the important thing.

Q. Before the game start, you had a talk with the catcher Nakamura. What kind of conversation was it?

YOSHINOBU YAMAMOTO: Nakamurasan told me not to talk too much about location. He just let me pitch cleanly.

Q. Looking back at previous four games, the starers including you did a great job. Did you feel any pressure because of the previous three games, all the starters did a great job.

YOSHINOBU YAMAMOTO: Of course I have extra pressure on. But like I said, we scored three runs in the first inning. That made me feel so relaxed.

Q. For the upcoming schedule you are most likely pitching against team USA, that's our prediction. What do you think?

YOSHINOBU YAMAMOTO: Well, today, I had a couple things that I wanted to fix, and details, as well, and I'd like to fix it. And if there's a next opportunity for me, I'd like to pitch better than tonight.

Q. The previous three games, Ohtani, Darvish, all the Japanese pitchers did a great job. Did you have extra pressure?

YOSHINOBU YAMAMOTO: No, not at all. I got a positive message from them. We have great momentum, and I just wanted to not stop our momentum.

Q. Previously you pitched, your first inning was a concern for the game. Was it the same approach today? I think you had extra pressure on it. Did you pitch well early in the game?

YOSHINOBU YAMAMOTO: Yes, I'm always concerned about how I start the game. But tonight's game, we scored first, that's huge to me. Thanks to that first inning score, I think I pitched well.

Q. Looking back at tonight's game, can you tell us what things you would like to fix in the future? Right after the intrasquad games, you told us you wanted to change things. Did you fix it, and how did you evaluate for tonight's pitching?

YOSHINOBU YAMAMOTO: Tonight what I thought was my command was not what I was expecting, and I pitched a little bit more than I was expected. I'd like to minimize my pitch count. After the previous games, I spoke with Yu Darvish and used the high pitch, that's how learned from Darvish, and in today's game, I think I've got a good combination of the high fastball and low fastball, so I thank Yu Darvish a lot.

Q. Since you're representing Team Japan, most likely as of my view, you pitched a great outing of your career as Team Japan. How did you manage to peak for today's game? It seems like it's important, it's difficult to peak for these important games.

YOSHINOBU YAMAMOTO: During the Miyazaki camp to today, this is a day I am concerned with, and I've always been preparing for today. Today was my target day, so that's how I managed myself.