In the days after the debacle, several members of the Los Angeles Dodgers approached Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

The weight of a Game 1 failure in a National League Division Series hung on Yamamoto¡¯s shoulders, his distress obvious to a group that does not speak his language. A procession of teammates tried to lift his spirits. He heard from pitchers and catchers, infielders and outfielders, coaches and executives, all offering some version of the same message.

¡°He¡¯s one of the best pitchers in the world,¡± backup catcher Austin Barnes said.