After a frustrating series against the Phillies, the Dodgers were right back at it against the rival Giants, and they won the type of game today that they’ve lost so many times before this season. They scrapped together a couple of runs on some fortunate bounces, and somehow managed to pitch around traffic all game as the pen clung on late in a 2-1 victory.
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A combination of getting squeezed by a highly erratic zone and a shaky command day saw Yoshinobu Yamamoto labor tonight like he hadn’t recently, but he still managed to post zeroes.
He issued a couple of two-out walks in the 1st, gave up a two-out single in the 2nd — the only hit he allowed — and then seemed to settle for a clean 3rd. However, he walked two more in the 4th and needed help from Ben Rortvedt throwing out a runner, and issued another walk in the 5th. Despite the pitch count, he came out in the 6th and issued another walk. After a stolen base, he rebounded for a strikeout, but that was it for him as he set a career-high in walks.
Yamamoto battled and kept them off the board, to his credit: 5.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 6 BB, 7 K, 108 Pitches.
That zero stayed up there thanks to Jack Dreyer entering and getting a pair of outs to end that threat.
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Unfortunately, unlike the last time out, Logan Webb was getting calls and looked a lot sharper this time around. After he walked a batter in the 1st, he then faced the minimum over the next four innings, as the one single he gave up in the 3rd was erased by a double play.
The 6th was a different story, as the offense got a bit of a break. Miguel Rojas started the rally with a single, but Rortvedt made a rare mistake in bunting the wrong direction for a force out at second. Fortunately, Shohei Ohtani got pitches to hit at least, and he ripped a double to put two in scoring position.
Mookie Betts then got ahead 2-0 in the count, but chased a pitch out of the zone and grounded it to short. Fortunately, Patrick Bailey dropped Willy Adames throw home to allow Rortvedt to score. Freddie Freeman then followed with a single up the middle to make it 2-0.
¡Dos al plato! pic.twitter.com/1ubat5uuQG
— Los Dodgers (@LosDodgers) September 19, 2025
Unfortunately, Max Muncy popped up to put two down, and Adames made a stunning play on a Teoscar Hernandez liner to save a run and end the threat.
This ridiculous play by Willy Adames to save a run gets a rival highlight post. pic.twitter.com/sQpU1FuJsl
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) September 19, 2025
Webb continued on through the 7th in 1-2-3 fashion, and despite another Ohtani double in the 8th against their pen, the Dodgers couldn’t add insurance.
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Back to the adventure that is the Dodgers pen in the 7th. Michael Kopech was put into the game, and he promptly issued two walks and got bailed out on a strikeout with a pitch out of the zone that was chased. Dave Roberts came to get him after that, though it makes me wonder why he was ever put into that leverage situation, especially since they didn’t have confidence as a guy was warming up behind him immediately.
That guy was unfortunately Blake Treinen, who issued back-to-back walks himself to force a run in, still with just one out in the inning.
Thankfully, he then managed to get back-to-back strikeouts to keep the lead intact. 2-1 Dodgers.
Blake Treinen escapes the bases-loaded jam with a strikeout ?? pic.twitter.com/Xwm4IaEsJf
— MLB (@MLB) September 19, 2025
The 8th came and went without any drama, as Anthony Banda got a perfect frame with a strikeout on just 12 pitch.
In the 9th, it was Alex Vesia instead of Tanner Scott, which was a bit surprising. However, it paid off as he struck out two batters and then got a lineout for a nice and easy end.
I recognize this Vesia at least. pic.twitter.com/wlKWdfBo0I
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) September 19, 2025
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The series resumes tomorrow with Clayton Kershaw making the final home start of his career against Robbie Ray at 4:10 PM HT/7:10 PM PT/10:10 PM ET. Unfortunately, it’ll be on Apple TV+ instead of literally any other channel.
