Los Angeles pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto overcame an early home run to dominate New York’s lineup, helping the Dodgers secure a narrow 2-1 victory over the struggling Mets on Tuesday night.
After surrendering a leadoff homer, Yamamoto found his rhythm and set down 20 consecutive New York batters in what became a classic pitching matchup. Kyle Tucker provided the decisive blow with a clutch RBI single in the eighth inning that broke a 1-1 deadlock.
The victory extended Los Angeles’ hot streak to nine wins in their last 11 contests and marked their fifth series triumph in six attempts this season. Meanwhile, New York’s struggles continued as their losing streak reached seven games.
Yamamoto’s final line showed one earned run allowed on four hits across 7 2/3 innings, recording seven strikeouts and issuing just one walk. Blake Treinen (1-0) earned the win after striking out Luis Robert Jr. in a crucial eighth-inning situation with two runners in scoring position. Alex Vesia closed out the game by striking out three straight batters for his second save.
New York starter Nolan McLean matched Yamamoto’s excellence, surrendering only one run on two hits over seven complete innings while walking two and fanning eight Dodgers hitters.
Francisco Lindor got the Mets on the board immediately, launching Yamamoto’s third pitch of the game over the right field wall for his first home run and RBI of the season. The blast also ended New York’s 20-inning scoreless drought.
Los Angeles answered quickly in the bottom half of the first frame. Tucker drew a one-out walk, advanced to third on Will Smith’s double to left field, and scored when Freddie Freeman grounded out to first base.
Following Lindor’s early blast, Yamamoto completely shut down the Mets offense until the seventh inning, when Bo Bichette broke the streak with a two-out double. Francisco Alvarez followed with a walk, putting two runners on base, but Yamamoto escaped trouble by striking out Brett Baty.
McLean was equally effective after Smith’s first-inning double, retiring 13 straight Dodgers batters without allowing another hit until Max Muncy’s seventh-inning single.
The deciding rally came in the eighth when pinch hitter Miguel Rojas drew a leadoff walk against left-handed reliever Brooks Raley (0-1). Santiago Espinal advanced the runner with a sacrifice bunt before Shohei Ohtani received an intentional walk. Tucker then delivered the game-winning hit, blooping an RBI single down the left field line.
Ohtani’s walk extended his remarkable on-base streak to 48 consecutive games, placing him alone in second place in franchise history since the team moved to Los Angeles.
