The night in Baltimore was set up for baseball history. Instead, it turned into a gut-wrenching collapse for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Dodgers’ prized offseason signing, was one strike away from throwing the first no-hitter of the 2025 MLB season. In a cruel twist, his masterpiece unraveled in the final moments and the Orioles pulled off a shocking comeback, handing Los Angeles its fifth straight defeat.
Yamamoto’s Pursuit of History
From the first pitch, Yamamoto showed the command and poise that made him one of Japan’s most feared pitchers. He carried a no-hit bid through 8 2/3 innings, overpowering Baltimore hitters with a mix of velocity, movement, and pinpoint precision.
A Dominant Effort on the Mound
This was easily Yamamoto’s most impressive MLB outing so far. He threw 112 pitches, struck out 10 Orioles, and consistently kept their offense off balance.
He’d never pitched beyond the seventh inning in MLB before. Coming into this game, Yamamoto already had two no-hitters from his time in Nippon Professional Baseball, making this near-miss feel even more bittersweet.
The atmosphere in Camden Yards grew tense as the ninth inning began. History felt so close you could almost touch it.
The Moment Everything Changed
Yamamoto retired the first two batters in the ninth. Then he stared down Orioles rookie sensation Jackson Holliday.
On a full count, Holliday connected with a fastball and launched it over the right-field fence. In an instant, Yamamoto’s shot at history was gone, replaced by stunned silence—then a standing ovation from both Dodgers fans and Orioles supporters. Baseball can be cruel like that.
Dave Roberts’ Tough Call
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts immediately pulled Yamamoto after the homer. Maybe it was controversial, but Roberts wanted to protect Yamamoto’s arm after all those pitches.
Unfortunately, the Dodgers’ bullpen couldn’t hold it together. What happened next flipped the game upside down.
From Near No-Hitter to Crushing Loss
Reliever Blake Treinen came in needing just one out to lock up a 3-1 win. Instead, he lost his command and walked in a run with the bases loaded, making it 3-2.
Baltimore’s energy surged. The Dodgers suddenly looked rattled.
Walk-Off Heartbreak
Tanner Scott entered to try to end the rally. With the crowd roaring, Emmanuel Rivera lined a two-run single to seal a 4-3 walk-off win for the Orioles.
That ninth inning was wild—four runs, all with two outs. The Dodgers never saw it coming.
Dodgers’ Offensive Highlights Get Lost
Before the collapse, the Dodgers looked poised to snap their losing streak thanks to key contributions from their stars:
- Shohei Ohtani drove in the game’s first run with a clutch RBI single.
- Mookie Betts added two more RBIs, giving Los Angeles a comfortable cushion.
That early offense, paired with Yamamoto’s brilliance, had the Dodgers in control through eight innings. Then it all vanished in one of the most stunning ninth innings of the season so far.
What’s Next for Los Angeles and Yamamoto
This loss extends a worrying trend for the Dodgers. Five straight defeats raise real questions about the bullpen and late-game execution.
Manager Dave Roberts has to find answers fast if the Dodgers want to keep pace in a tough National League West. No one said it would be easy.
Yamamoto’s Silver Lining
Yamamoto’s performance—aside from one pitch—showed ace-level potential. He looked every bit the star Los Angeles hoped for when they brought him stateside.
If he keeps pitching like this, his first MLB no-hitter feels almost inevitable. The loss hurts, but his outing gave fans plenty to feel optimistic about.
Baseball schedules rarely show mercy. The Dodgers barely have time to process the heartbreak before the next challenge.
For fans in Baltimore, though, this game stands out. A rookie ruined history, and somehow, the team found a way to rally anyway.
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Here is the source article for this story: Yoshinobu Yamamoto no-hit bid broken up by Jackson Holliday homer in 9th inning, sparking Orioles rally and walk-off
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