In a thrilling match that ended with Los Angeles Dodgers breaking up the scoreless game with a two-run double in the 11th inning, the Dodgers triumphed over the Yankees with a final score of 2–1 on Friday night. This victory halted New York’s impressive season-best eight-game winning streak. The contest was seen as a potential World Series preview, adding an extra layer of excitement for both teams and their fans.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto put in a solid performance for the Yankees, pitching seven scoreless innings of three-hit ball during his debut at Yankee Stadium. Following Yamamoto’s impressive stint on the mound, Anthony Banda, Blake Treinen, Daniel Hudson, Michael Grove (4–2), and Yohan Ramírez combined their efforts to secure a five-hitter for the Dodgers.
Ramírez, who has already played for two other major league teams this season, achieved his first save in two years after allowing a one-out RBI single to Aaron Judge. He managed to strike out Giancarlo Stanton and retire Anthony Rizzo on a foul pop, leaving the Yankees with a 1–4 record in extra innings this year.
Despite being bothered by a sore left forearm, Juan Soto missed his first game of the season for the Yankees but was ready to pinch hit during the late innings. Shohei Ohtani, who has been dealing with back and hamstring issues, went 0 for 5 and faced repeated boos from the audience. Since May 16, Ohtani’s performance has declined significantly, hitting just .195 with three homers and 10 RBIs, which has caused his season average to drop from .364 to .312.
The game remained scoreless until the 11th inning, when Teoscar Hernández broke the tie with a two-run double. Ian Hamilton (0–1), the sixth Yankees pitcher, managed to end the 10th inning by retiring Ohtani on an inning-ending grounder with two runners on base.
In the 11th inning, Hernández drove an 0–2 slider to the left-center gap, scoring two runs for the Dodgers and securing their win. The game marked the first time Los Angeles had played in the Bronx since 2016.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed his hope that this matchup could be a potential preview of the World Series, emphasizing the importance of feeling different when playing against the Yankees. He also highlighted the significance of the game for both teams and their fans.
Yankee Stadium was filled to capacity with a season-high crowd of 48,048 spectators, making it the fourth sellout at the stadium this year. Both teams and their supporters were evidently engaged in the contest, which is expected to be one of the more notable regular-season series due to its extra element of excitement.
A 25-year-old right-hander, Yamamoto had signed a $325 million, 12-year contract with the Dodgers during the offseason after spurning the Yankees. He allowed two hits and two walks while striking out seven batters in his debut at Yankee Stadium, throwing a season-high 106 pitches. Yamamoto’s performance was impressive, as he managed to throw 20 pitches faster than 97.2 mph – a feat that had previously been his top speed in his first dozen starts, reaching a maximum of 98.4 mph.
New York’s Cody Poteet also made his Yankee Stadium debut, pitching 4 2/3 scoreless innings and allowing two hits and three walks. The Yankees managed to load the bases in the eighth inning when Judge worked a 10-pitch walk against Treinen, who then retired Stanton on a flyout.
The game was marked by plate umpire Todd Tichenor’s tight strike zone, which frustrated both teams throughout the matchup. The victory for the Dodgers marked an important milestone in their season and provided fans with an exciting taste of what could potentially be a World Series preview later this year.