LOS ANGELES — Even through the most trying time of the season so far, Yoshinobu Yamamoto has continued to be the Dodgers’ rock.
The bullpen, on the other hand, still has some work to do, while the offense remains in search of some consistency.
That offense managed to rise to the occasion in a three-run 10th inning when Max Muncy’s game-ending sacrifice fly gave the Dodgers a 4-3 victory. The late outburst ended a season-long four-game losing streak.
Even the celebration immediately after the victory was somewhat subdued as the Dodgers appeared to look more relieved than exhilarated. The Dodgers trailed 3-1 in the 10th before Tommy Edman had an RBI double and Will Smith brought home the game-tying run when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Yamamoto gave up just one hit over seven scoreless innings in a performance that was derailed by a blown save from Tanner Scott, who gave up a game-tying home run with one out in the ninth inning to Gabriel Moreno and a two-run home run to Corbin Carroll in the 10th.
In one of his best starts in a Dodgers uniform, Yamamoto carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning while putting the Dodgers on the brink of victory.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman has said the injury issues within the pitching staff are “the No. 1 thing” that keeps him up at night. Manager Dave Roberts said he was just looking for somebody who wouldn’t give up a first-inning run, something the Dodgers have done in each of the four losses on their slide.
But Roberts was the one who had an inkling that this might be coming when asked about Yamamoto becoming a staff ace.
“This is one of those starts,” Roberts said. “Obviously we’re mired in a losing streak. He’s our ace. He’s kind of had a couple pedestrian outings his last two. But he’s obviously had a fantastic start to the season. These are the nights that you need your ace to be a stopper and go deep in the game.”
Yamamoto did his part by allowing just the one hit over seven innings with two walks and nine strikeouts that were one off his season high.
The Dodgers took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning when Freddie Freeman and Smith delivered back-to-back doubles with two outs. Smith now has a hit in seven of his last eight games and was batting .378 in 15 May games before Tuesday.
Yamamoto finished off six no-hit innings when he struck out Carroll looking.
Ketel Marte led off the seventh inning with a single off the base of the wall in right-center. Not only did the no-hit bid end, but the Diamondbacks were in position to tie the game when Marte went to second on a wild pitch and to third on a ground out. But Yamamoto ended the threat by striking out Pavin Smith.
Again, Arizona was poised to score in the eighth inning against Alex Vesia. Geraldo Perdomo led off with a double and went to third on a bunt single from Tim Tawa. Pinch-hitter Eugenio Suarez popped out and Carroll again struck out as Tawa stole second base.
After Marte was walked intentionally to load the bases, Dodgers right-hander Ben Casparius replaced Vesia and struck out Lourdes Gurriel Jr. to wiggle out of another jam.
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