The Dodgers desperately needed to salvage something from this series against the Diamondbacks, and they scored early this time to help put Yoshinobu Yamamoto at ease, and he entered cruise control over seven innings. However, things got nervy again when Tanner Scott blew the save in brutal fashion, but thankfully Will Smith delivered a pinch-hit walk-off homer to win 5-4.
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As mentioned, the bats got off to an ideal start, as Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts got back-to-back singles, then Freddie Freeman doubled to plate Ohtani and make it 1-0 after three batters. Andy Pages then squibbed a comebacker for an RBI groundout to make it 2-0, but they weren’t able to capitalize further.
Two-spot to start the game! pic.twitter.com/BMS9LViiU4
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 31, 2025
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On the other side, Yamamoto started dominantly, tallying a perfect first three innings.
Praying he has this all game. Yeesh. pic.twitter.com/oP12xiwVU1
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 31, 2025
That was broken up with one out in the 4th via a bunt single, which started a rally as another single followed, and then with two outs there was yet another one to score a run and make it 2-1. However, Yamamoto rebounded to get the final out of the frame and avoid further mess.
He responded to the RBI single by retiring the next eight batters he faced, giving up a one-out single in the 7th but nothing else as he completed one of the better starts of the year in terms of stuff and dominance.
Double digit strikeouts with just four singles? Hell yeah: 7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 10 K, 98 Pitches.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto tied a career-high in strikeouts with 10, allowing just four singles over seven innings. https://t.co/OcuxmYLxmP pic.twitter.com/yz1AJYf4oA
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 31, 2025
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Meanwhile, after a quiet couple of innings, the Dodgers rallied again in the 4th, as Michael Conforto started with a walk, a one-out Alex Freeland single put a pair on, and with two down Miguel Rojas came through with a nice piece of hitting with a single of his own to push the lead to 3-1.
Miggy Ro continues to be important for this team, singling with two outs to get the run back. pic.twitter.com/AkHQKBY4ce
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 31, 2025
The 5th was another chance for the offense, as Mookie started with a single, advanced to second on a groundout, and then scored on a Pages single to push the lead to 4-1.
Andy works it full and drives in another run with a single. pic.twitter.com/19aYJRd5nq
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 31, 2025
The 6th and 7th then went quietly … which surprisingly would backfire quickly.
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So all that was being asked of the pen was to not give up three runs in two innings … but that was too much. Tanner Scott did more of what he has done all year, and the damage came with two outs. A bloop single to right, a groundball single to center, and a three-run Corbin Carroll homer tied the game at 3-3 just like that.
He’s so clutch. pic.twitter.com/pOHNK1ipna
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) August 31, 2025
The 9th belonged to Blake Treinen, who cruised through an eight-pitch frame to give the Dodgers a walk-off shot.
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After they got nothing in the 8th, it took all of one batter for Will Smith to come up huge in the midst of his slump, smashing a walk-off homer to secure the victory in dramatic fashion.
PINCH-HIT WALK-OFF HOMER? YES HE WILL. pic.twitter.com/Oo0Uz2kss3
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 31, 2025
Putting the W in Will. pic.twitter.com/oSUzHGovhN
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 31, 2025
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The Dodgers will now have another day off, this time to travel to Pittsburg for a three-game series against the Pirates. It’ll start at 12:40 PM HT/3:40 PM PT/6:40 PM ET on SNLA with Clayton Kershaw on the mound against … Michael Burrows, maybe?
