Dodgers defeat Yankees thanks to Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s full game performance

July 19, 2026

Ohtani’s Knee Issue Affects Pitching, Batting Remains Strong

NEW YORK — Shohei Ohtani’s left knee issues will prevent him from pitching for the foreseeable future.

However, during Sunday’s doubleheader against the Yankees, it was clear that his ongoing injury wasn’t significantly affecting his hitting.

In the Dodgers’ 8-2 win, which came after a rainout on Saturday, Ohtani contributed right away with an RBI double in the third inning. His performance, along with Freddie Freeman’s hit later in the game, helped secure a series-clinching victory at Yankee Stadium. The win was also bolstered by Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s impressive complete game.

Ohtani’s double occurred when Tommy Edman was on first base with one out. He hit a powerful line drive, clocked at 111 mph, that soared over the right fielder’s head.

The hit struck the wall with a solid thud, and the Yankees’ defense was too slow to prevent Edman from scoring. From that point on, the Dodgers maintained a lead, with Yamamoto achieving his first complete game in the regular season, repeating his success from last year’s playoffs, as they secured their second straight win following the All-Star break.

In the second game, some concerns arose regarding Ohtani’s knee. He fouled a ball off his knee in the fifth inning and then grounded out to second, noticeably running back to the dugout with caution.

Despite this, he persevered and finished the game 2-for-5, including an eighth-inning single that marked his 60th RBI of the season, indicating that the knee injury was mostly an issue when pitching.

“He seemed a bit sluggish, but he felt fine in his next at-bat,” manager Dave Roberts noted, confirming Ohtani would serve as the designated hitter later on. “He says he feels good, so he’ll be there tonight.”

What It Means

The Dodgers entered the All-Star break struggling, having been swept by the Diamondbacks and losing four out of five games.

But they opened the second half with a strong performance in the Bronx, achieving their third consecutive series win at Yankee Stadium since 2016 (excluding the 2024 World Series win).

Who is Hot

In what was expected to be a pitching duel between Yamamoto and Yankees rising star Cam Schlitler, the comparison was quite one-sided.

Schlitler exited the game in the fifth inning after the Dodgers increased his pitch count early, with their third run coming from an RBI double by Andy Pages. During the at-bat, Pages’ bat slipped out of his hands, leading to a mishap.

In contrast, Yamamoto delivered a near-flawless game, allowing just four hits, striking out seven, and throwing 102 pitches.

“That was significant,” Roberts remarked about Yamamoto’s performance, which saved the bullpen for another game later. “A pitcher who can not only win games but also preserve the bullpen is invaluable.”

He retired the first nine batters effortlessly and needed under 30 pitches for three perfect innings. Although he gave up a home run in the fourth inning on a fastball that may have been misplaced, he quickly recovered to retire another series of batters. After allowing a double in the seventh, he continued with another leadoff double in the eighth, which was marred by sun visibility issues.

Yamamoto has made 18 starts this year, with a record of 10 wins, six losses, and an ERA of 2.78.

“His command was excellent today,” Roberts commented. “He seemed to control the game effectively.”

Who is Not?

The Yankees faced challenges catching the ball under the bright sun.

Sunday afternoon, the Yankees struggled with the weather, culminating in Pages losing sight of a fly ball from Jazz Chisholm Jr. in the eighth inning.

Ironically, the Dodgers’ first hit came from a shallow pop-up by Max Muncy in the second inning, but Chisholm’s mishap allowed for a double.

Moreover, the Dodgers capitalized on two missed catches, resulting in a five-run eighth inning. Third baseman Ryan McMahon failed to secure a straightforward out on a pop-up that ended up being lost in foul territory. Teoscar Hernández connected with a fly down the right field, but Schumann’s error allowed the ball to bounce into the outfield for a double.