Dodgers' Bullpen Blows Lead After Yamamoto Carries No-Hitter Into Ninth; Orioles Win on Walk-Off
Yoshinobu Yamamoto was one out from a no-hitter before Jackson Holliday's two-out homer; a shaky relief outing by Blake Treinen and a walk-off single by Emmanuel Rivera sealed a 4-3 loss for Los Angeles.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning Saturday night but did not finish it, and the Los Angeles Dodgers surrendered a late lead as the Baltimore Orioles rallied for a walk-off victory.
With two outs in the ninth and the Dodgers up, Yamamoto gave up a solo home run to Jackson Holliday that ended both the no-hit bid and the Japanese ace's outing. Manager Dave Roberts immediately lifted Yamamoto to a standing ovation from the crowd and inserted veteran reliever Blake Treinen to try to finish the frame.
Treinen failed to retire a batter. He allowed a double to Orioles second baseman Jeremiah Jackson, hit Gunnar Henderson with a pitch and then issued a walk to Ryan Mountcastle, loading the bases. Treinen then walked Colton Cowser, forcing in a run and cutting the Dodgers' lead to one. Roberts turned to Tanner Scott to try to escape the jam, but Orioles third baseman Emmanuel Rivera delivered an up-the-middle, two-run single that ended the game and completed Baltimore's comeback.
The final score was 4-3 in favor of the Orioles. Yamamoto had been bidding to record the first no-hitter of the Major League season; the bid ended with two outs in the ninth when Holliday connected. Yamamoto received a standing ovation from the Orioles' crowd and players on both dugouts acknowledged his effort as he exited the field.
Roberts' decision to remove Yamamoto after the Holliday homer followed standard bullpen protocol, but the Dodgers' relievers were unable to hold the late advantage. Treinen, who entered with the game hanging in the balance, issued multiple free passes that proved decisive, and Scott was charged with the two-run, walk-off hit by Rivera.
The loss marked a dramatic reversal for the defending World Series champions, who had carried a multi-run lead into the late innings and saw a near-historic pitching performance slip away in the final moments. The Orioles' rally began with Jackson's double and continued through a sequence of free passes that produced the tying run and set the stage for Rivera's hit.
The game illustrated both Yamamoto's dominance through most of his start and the risks inherent in late-inning bullpen changes. Yamamoto's deep outing reinforced his status as an ace starter, while the relievers' control issues exposed the Dodgers to a late deficit they could not recover from.
The defeat leaves the Dodgers to regroup after a frustrating finish, while the Orioles celebrated a come-from-behind victory in front of their home crowd. The result also extended the stretch without a Major League no-hitter in 2025.
Yamamoto's night will be remembered for its dominant pitch-to-contact and the drama of a ninth-inning finish, while the bullpen sequence will draw scrutiny as the Dodgers evaluate their late-inning relief usage. The Orioles' win was punctuated by timely hitting and patience at the plate, forcing the free passes that led to the decisive play.
Both teams will resume their regular-season schedules with immediate concerns: Los Angeles over late-game bullpen reliability and Baltimore over how to build on a comeback that showcased depth and late-game execution.