Dodgers Win in Extras Behind Yamamoto’s Masterclass and Clutch Offense

The Los Angeles Dodgers secured an electrifying extra-inning victory Tuesday night, outlasting the [Opponent Team] [score] at Dodger Stadium thanks to a dominant outing from Yoshinobu Yamamoto and a late offensive surge that brought the Chavez Ravine crowd to its feet.

Yamamoto, the prized Japanese signing who’s steadily emerging as one of MLB’s most consistent pitchers, turned in a dazzling seven-inning performance, allowing just one hit while striking out nine. His command was impeccable, his velocity crisp, and his poise unwavering, setting the tone in what felt like a playoff atmosphere in May.

“I just wanted to give my team a chance to win,” Yamamoto said postgame through an interpreter. “I was focused on execution and staying calm. Every pitch mattered tonight.”

Yamamoto’s gem marked arguably his best performance yet in a Dodgers uniform, a statement outing that reminded everyone why Los Angeles invested over $300 million in his services this offseason. Not since Hideo Nomo’s prime has a Japanese pitcher electrified Dodger Stadium this way, and Tuesday’s effort further fueled talk that Yamamoto is well on his way to NL Cy Young consideration.

Yet for all of Yamamoto’s brilliance, the Dodgers entered the eighth inning with just a slim 1-0 lead—thanks to a solo home run from Mookie Betts in the third inning—and a bullpen that’s been taxed in recent weeks. Manager Dave Roberts turned to his relievers to preserve the lead, but a miscue in the ninth allowed the [Opponent Team] to tie the game, sending it into extras.

Ninth-Inning Drama

Evan Phillips, typically one of the Dodgers’ most reliable arms, was brought in to close out the game. But a walk, a stolen base, and a well-placed single down the left-field line evened the score at 1-1.

“You never want to give up the lead late,” Phillips said. “But credit to our guys—we didn’t hang our heads. We came back swinging.”

The Dodgers nearly walked it off in the bottom of the ninth when Freddie Freeman roped a double off the right-field wall, but Will Smith was thrown out at home on a perfect relay throw, preserving the tie and setting up the extra-inning showdown.

Tenth-Inning Heroics

In the top of the 10th, Brusdar Graterol stranded the automatic runner at second with a pair of nasty sinkers and a perfectly located cutter to escape a jam. Then, it was the Dodgers’ turn.

With Shohei Ohtani placed at second base as the ghost runner, the Dodgers wasted no time. Teoscar Hernández laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt, moving Ohtani to third. Then, Gavin Lux, whose struggles at the plate this season have tested Roberts’ patience, delivered the most timely hit of his season: a bloop single into shallow right to bring home the winning run.

Dodgers win, 2-1.

“It felt amazing,” Lux said. “It’s been a grind lately, so to come through for the team in that spot, especially after Yamamoto gave us such a great start—it’s huge.”

Yamamoto’s Dominance

Tuesday marked the sixth straight quality start for Yamamoto, who’s now boasting a 1.89 ERA through his first 10 MLB starts. But this one felt different.

From the very first pitch, Yamamoto was in total control. He mixed his splitter and cutter with precision, getting 17 swings and misses and generating weak contact all night. The lone hit came in the fifth inning—a bloop single that barely cleared the infield.

“He’s everything we hoped for and more,” said Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior. “The work ethic, the routine, the stuff—it’s elite.”

Yamamoto’s fastball sat at 95 mph consistently, but it was the late movement on his off-speed stuff that kept hitters off balance. His final line: 7 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 9 K on just 96 pitches. He was efficient and aggressive, throwing first-pitch strikes to 19 of the 24 batters he faced.

“He’s got this presence on the mound,” Freeman said. “You feel like you’re gonna win when he pitches.”

Shohei’s Quiet Spark

Though Shohei Ohtani didn’t go deep or drive in a run, his impact was unmistakable. He drew two walks, stole a base, and scored the winning run—all while continuing to adjust to his new role in the Dodgers’ lineup as a DH-only player following offseason elbow surgery.

“I’m just trying to find ways to contribute,” Ohtani said. “We’ve got a lot of guys who can hit, so I want to be smart on the bases and take good at-bats.”

Ohtani has quietly posted a .310 average with a .412 OBP in May, and his ability to stretch singles into scoring opportunities has been an underrated aspect of the Dodgers’ offensive flow.

Betts Gets It Started

Mookie Betts’ third-inning homer was the only blemish against [Opponent Starter], who matched Yamamoto pitch for pitch for much of the evening. Betts took a 1-0 fastball deep to left-center for his 11th home run of the season, giving the Dodgers a crucial early lead.

“He’s the spark plug,” Roberts said. “When Mookie gets going, we usually follow.”

Betts added a double in the seventh but was stranded at third, as the Dodgers’ situational hitting briefly faltered before they finally came through in extras.

Bullpen Stands Tall

Aside from the blown save in the ninth, the Dodgers bullpen delivered in high-pressure situations. Graterol’s performance in the 10th was particularly critical, and Ryan Brasier also recorded a key out in the eighth.

“Every game matters, but when you go to extras after dominating all night, you really want to lock it down,” Graterol said. “We had Yamamoto’s back.”

The bullpen has been stretched thin with multiple injuries, including to Blake Treinen and Joe Kelly, but performances like this underscore the unit’s depth.

Postgame Vibes and Big Picture

The win improves the Dodgers to [record], extending their lead in the NL West. But perhaps more importantly, it reaffirmed the identity of this team: dominant pitching, superstar power, and relentless depth.

With a roster built for October, nights like Tuesday show why the Dodgers remain the gold standard in baseball. Yamamoto’s performance not only dazzled the sellout crowd but also served as a warning shot to the rest of the league: he’s just getting started.

“Seven innings, one hit—it doesn’t get much better than that,” Roberts said. “He gave us a chance to win, and the boys found a way.”

Fans React

Fans poured out of Dodger Stadium buzzing about Yamamoto’s outing and Lux’s redemption moment. Social media lit up with praise for Yamamoto’s masterclass, with #Yamamoto and #DodgersWin both trending nationally.

“Watching Yamamoto is like poetry,” one fan posted. “Dodgers got themselves a true ace.”

Others focused on the drama of the walk-off.

“Gavin Lux… that’s baseball magic right there,” tweeted another.

What’s Next

The Dodgers wrap up the three-game set with the [Opponent Team] on Wednesday, with Walker Buehler set to take the mound in just his third start since returning from Tommy John surgery. A series win is already guaranteed, but the team will look to complete the sweep and build momentum as they head into a weekend showdown with the [Next Opponent].

Meanwhile, all eyes will remain on Yamamoto, whose next start promises to draw even more attention, perhaps even more comparisons to the best Dodgers pitchers of the past.

“This is why we do this,” Yamamoto said. “These are the games you remember.”

Game Summary

• Final Score: Dodgers 2, [Opponent] 1 (10 innings)
• Winning Pitcher: Brusdar Graterol (W, 2-1)
• Losing Pitcher: [Opponent Pitcher] (L, X-X)
• Home Runs: Betts (3rd inning, solo)
• Player of the Game: Yoshinobu Yamamoto – 7 IP, 1 H, 9 K, 0 ER

Statistical Highlights