Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto didn’t quite make it through the whole game, as Baltimore Orioles star Jackson Holiday ended his chances with two home runs.
So, how did the Dodgers end up losing that night?
After Holiday’s home run, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts decided to pull Yamamoto from the game, bringing in Blake Trainen with a 3-1 lead.
Unfortunately, Trainen’s first pitch didn’t go well. Baltimore’s second baseman Jeremiah Jackson welcomed him to the game with a double. Things only got worse from there, as Trainen hit Gunnar Henderson with a pitch and walked Ryan Mountcastle, putting Baltimore in a scoring position.
As the situation heated up, Trainen walked Colton Couser, and suddenly it was a one-run game. The Dodgers made another change, bringing in Tanner Scott, but their luck had clearly run out. Emmanuel Rivera, the Orioles’ third baseman, singled, driving in two runs.
Baltimore ultimately took the win, finishing 4-3.
This loss has definitely been one of the worst for the Dodgers this season, stirring quite a reaction from fans on social media.
Yamamoto actually pitched well before the incident, looking strong and even on pace for a no-hitter—something the Dodgers haven’t had since Clayton Kershaw did it ages ago. He recorded 10 strikeouts and only walked two batters. It’s a shame he couldn’t finish the game.
Mookie Betts had a decent night, going 2 for 5 with two RBIs, while Shohei Ohtani also contributed, finishing 1 for 5. But in the end, the defending World Series champs failed to seal the deal.
The Dodgers are still in the playoff race, managing to hold a slim lead in the National League West over the San Diego Padres, but only by 1.5 games.
Meanwhile, the Orioles have been out of contention for a while, sitting at 66-76 this season and trailing behind in the American League East.
