Yoshinobu Yamamoto's Bid for No-Hitter Ends on Late Homer; Orioles Walk Off Dodgers 4-3
Yamamoto struck out 10 and surrendered a ninth-inning homer to Jackson Holliday with one out remaining; Baltimore won on Emmanuel Rivera's walk-off single
Yoshinobu Yamamoto carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning Saturday before Orioles shortstop Jackson Holliday hit a solo home run with one out to go, ending the Los Angeles Dodgers starter's bid and leaving the Dodgers on the wrong end of a 4-3 loss at Baltimore.
Yamamoto retired the first 25 batters he faced and finished with 8 2/3 innings, striking out 10 and issuing two walks. The homer by Holliday came with one out in the ninth and wiped away what would have been the first no-hitter of the 2025 major-league season. Baltimore capped the game with a walk-off single by Emmanuel Rivera in the bottom of the ninth.
The game unfolded at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, where Yamamoto dominated through eight innings, working primarily with a mix of fastballs, breaking pitches and a sharp splitter that kept Baltimore hitters off balance. The only blemish before Holliday's homer was a pair of walks; otherwise, Yamamoto escaped multiple traffic situations and routinely found strike one or two against opposing batters.
After Holliday's drive ended the no-hit bid, the Orioles rallied in their half of the ninth. Rivera delivered the decisive blow on a single that brought home the winning run, handing the Dodgers their second straight loss in the series. The final score was 4-3.
Major League Baseball had not recorded a no-hitter in the 2025 season up to Saturday. The most recent combined no-hitter came on Sept. 4, 2024, when three pitchers from the Chicago Cubs blanked the Pittsburgh Pirates. The last solo no-hitter was thrown Aug. 2, 2024, by Blake Snell.
Yamamoto, who has been a frontline starter for Los Angeles since joining the team, improved several season statistical categories with the outing even as he fell short of the historic mark. His 10 strikeouts were among the highest totals of his start this year, and his ability to work deep into the game helped limit bullpen exposure for the Dodgers.
Manager and team officials praised Yamamoto's performance but emphasized the final result. Dodgers hitters produced three runs, but they were unable to provide enough support to preserve the near-historic outing. The loss stops a string of competitive games for Los Angeles and gives Baltimore a come-from-behind victory that kept the Orioles competitive in the late innings.
Jackson Holliday's homer marked a milestone in his own season, punctuating a day in which the Orioles capitalized on a late opportunity. Emmanuel Rivera, who finished the day as the hero, delivered the winning blow to close the game and secure the comeback.
The near-miss adds to a season narrative of few pitching gems reaching the century mark of no-hitters. With the calendar still offering ample opportunities, Yamamoto's outing stands as a reminder of how rare and fragile no-hit bids can be — a dominant performance undone by a single swing in the final moments.
The Dodgers return to the field for their next scheduled game with hopes of snapping the skid, while Baltimore gained momentum from a dramatic late rally. Yamamoto's performance will be logged among the season's standout pitching efforts, and the narrow margin between a historic achievement and a tough loss underscores the fine lines that define baseball outcomes.