The Los Angeles Dodgers were blown out by the Chicago White Sox in the Series Opener, but tied up the series in the second game behind a no-hitter from Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
The win set up a rubber match between the two clubs on Sunday before the Dodgers return to Dodger Stadium to begin a series with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Dodgers 7, White Sox 1: key takeaways
Yoshinobu Yamamoto nearly throws perfect game
Yamamoto made it through 7.2 perfect innings before an error by Mookie Betts allowed the first baserunner of the game. Dating back to his last start, Yamamoto retired 45 consecutive hitters, setting a Dodgers franchise record.
Retiring 45 consecutive hitters placed Yamamoto with the second longest streak in MLB modern ear history, trailing Yusmeiro Petit at 46.
Yamamoto went back out for the ninth inning looking to complete the 27th no-hitter in Dodgers franchise history and the 14th in L.A. Dodgers history, but Tristan Peters slugged a solo home run to break up the no-hitter and shutout.
The last Dodgers pitcher to throw a solo no-hitter was Clayton Kershaw on June 18, 2014, against the Colorado Rockies.
Yamamoto recorded the first out of the eighth inning after allowing the homer, but with 109 pitches and no longer chasing history, that was the final batter he faced. Yamamoto finished his outing with 8.1 innings pitched, allowing one run on one hit with seven strikeouts and no walks.
Alex Vesia entered to record the final two outs and secure the victory.
Dodgers offense hits three home runs
The Dodgers put up three runs in the first inning, and that proved to be all they needed.
The scoring started with a leadoff home run from Shohei Ohtani, his 14th long ball of the season. It was a question if Ohtani would be in the lineup after sitting out on Friday, but he quickly showed the knee inflammation didn’t affect his swing.
With two outs in the inning, Mookie Betts singled, setting the stage for Max Muncy to blast a two-run homer, his 15th of the season. Muncy also homered in the eighth inning, following another single from Betts, that put them up 7-0, and gave Muncy his 16th homer.
It was Muncy’s fourth multi-homer game of the season, and he now has 23 of them in his Dodgers career.
The Dodgers scored their other runs on a single from Tucker in the third inning, and a bases loaded walk from Tucker in the sixth.
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