Yoshinobu Yamamoto bowed to Kike Hernandez after pitching a complete game, with a heartwarming story behind it.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the Los Angeles Dodgers threw a complete game win in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series. After the game, he first shook hands with his nearby teammates. When Kike Hernandez approached, Yamamoto bowed to him. In fact, the story behind this gesture dates back to his first postseason start last year.

In his first postseason start last year, Yamamoto gave up five runs over three innings against the San Diego Padres. Although the team eventually won, he was very dissatisfied with his performance and felt quite down. According to the Los Angeles Times, Hernandez said, “He was a bit down after Game 1. I just wanted to understand what he was thinking, to see what was on his mind.”

Hernandez and Yamamoto went to a local café in San Diego and had a two-hour heartfelt conversation. Hernandez reflected on that talk, saying, “I felt he lacked confidence in the pitches he was throwing. He admitted he was overwhelmed by pressure. I told him, ‘You are already one of the best pitchers in the world.’ But I sensed he could do even better. To reach that level, he has to fully believe in every pitch he throws.”

Besides privately encouraging him, Hernandez also publicly supported his teammate at a press conference last year, stating, “The team spent big money signing him not because of potential, but because he is already a great pitcher.” After Yamamoto completed this complete game win this year, Hernandez said he was not surprised at all. Watching Yamamoto pitch all season, he believed he had the ability to dominate the game. After the match, Yamamoto did not forget the teammate who supported him during tough times and bowed to him on the mound.