SAN FRANCISCO — The Los Angeles Dodgers won two consecutive games after a seven-game losing streak, defeating the San Francisco Giants 5-2 on Sunday afternoon at Oracle Park.
Left-hander Tanner Scott allowed a two-run home run to pinch-hitter Luis Matos with one out in the 9th inning, tying the game and forcing extra innings. This marks Scott’s seventh blown save in his first season.
Despite his struggles, Dave Roberts has consistently supported Scott throughout the season, even using him in high-pressure situations. However, as injuries have sidelined several key bullpen players—Blake Treinen, Kirby Yates, Michael Kopech, and Evan Phillips—others, such as Alex Vesia and Anthony Banda, have gradually taken on more responsibility in save situations.
Scott was brought in to be a rock for the Dodgers—entrusted with crucial late-game innings. Instead, a combination of increasingly hittable pitches and poor location turned him into a liability. Scott came in with a reputation for velocity, a whiff-heavy slider, and a fearless mentality on the mound. What he didn’t bring to L.A., apparently, was consistency.
Both teams failed to score in the 10th inning, but in the 11th inning, the Dodgers added three runs on three straight singles from Freddie Freeman, Teoscar Hernandez, and Andy Pages off Giants’ pitcher Spencer Bivens.
Through the first nine innings, the Dodgers’ offense managed only three hits to maintain the lead, until Scott’s missed opportunity changed the game.
Freddie Freeman started the scoring in the fourth inning with an RBI double, which brought his total to 25, tying him for second in the National League, just one behind Pete Alonso of the New York Mets. The other run was scored by veteran Miguel Rojas, who hit his fifth home run of the season and his fourth in the last 16 games. Last season, Rojas hit a total of six home runs.
Left-handed pitcher Robbie Ray, who was also selected as an All-Star, threw six innings, allowing three hits, two runs, two walks, and recording six strikeouts on 92 pitches. Although the Giants’ bullpen did not allow any hits, they were unable to generate any offense and were shut out by the Dodgers’ pitching staff.
The Dodgers received significant support from Yamamoto on the final day before he left for Atlanta, as he was named an All-Star for the first time in his career. This recognition comes after Yamamoto experienced the worst outing of his career, during which Roberts pulled him after just two-thirds of an inning.
On Sunday, against the Giants, Yamamoto (8-7, 2.59 ERA) pitched seven shutout innings, allowing three hits and two walks while recording seven strikeouts on 91 pitches. He delivered a first-pitch strike to 19 out of the 26 batters he faced, but despite his strong performance, he was unable to earn the win as the game went into extra innings.
The Dodgers have a record of 58-39 this season, entering the All-Star break with a six-game lead over the Giants. They will play again on Friday against the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium