Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto nearly pitched a no-hitter in a high-stakes game against the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday night. The game, played at the Dodger Stadium, was the latest chapter in a season-long playoff race for the Western Division. Yamamoto, a Japanese star, was on the verge of achieving a rare milestone—throwing the first no-hitter for the Dodgers since Clayton Kershaw’s historic performance in 2014. His outing was marked by dominance, with 10 strikeouts and just two walks, a testament to Yamamoto’s control and intensity on the mound.
However, the moment of glory was abruptly cut short in the ninth inning when Orioles slugger Jackson Holliday hit a two-out home run, breaking the no-hitter. The decision to remove Yamamoto from the game was a critical turning point. Manager Dave Roberts, facing a potential loss, opted to bring in Blake Treinen, a reliever known for his ability to close out games. But the relief pitcher, tasked with preserving the 3-1 lead, quickly found himself in trouble. Jeremiah Jackson greeted Treinen with a double, setting the stage for a rally. A costly walk to Ryan Mountcastle and a hit by Colton Cowser left the bases loaded, forcing the Dodgers to replace Treinen with Tanner Scott.
Unfortunately, the bullpen couldn’t hold the lead. As Scott entered the game, the Orioles capitalized on the opportunity. Emmanuel Rivera’s single brought two runs across, tying the game and sending the Orioles to a 4-3 victory. The loss was a bitter disappointment for the Dodgers, especially considering the dominance shown by Yamamoto in earlier innings. The team’s frustration spilled into social media, where fans took to platforms like Twitter to express their discontent. The Orioles, on the other hand, saw their season slip further away, now at 66-76, with no realistic chance of making the postseason. While the Dodgers remain competitive in the National League West, the defeat highlights the importance of pitching consistency and bullpen reliability in their playoff push.