Yoshinobu Yamamoto lacked his normal command, and a tight, if not inconsistent — and incorrect — strike zone compounded matters as the Los Angeles Dodgers suffered a 6-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants.
Willy Adames put the Giants ahead early with a solo home run in the first inning. But the proverbial knockout punch came in the third when Casey Schmitt hit the first grand slam of his career to break the tie and put the Giants ahead 5-1 and ultimately proved to be the difference in the game.
The bases were loaded on three walks in the inning, some of which included plate appearances where Yamamoto was squeezed by home plate umpire Adam Beck.
No matter the cause, Yamamoto set a new career high with five walks. His previous career high was four walks that came in a duel with Paul Skenes back on April 25.
Yamamoto’s night came to an end at 4.2 innings. It was the second time in his last three starts of failing to complete five innings, and marked a third time in the past seven outings of allowing at least four runs. That’s coincided with Yamamoto’s ERA rising each month this season.
After a 1.06 ERA for March/April, it increased to 3.00 in May and now 5.65 through three starts in June.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers were thoroughly dominated by Logan Webb.
Multiple walks in the second inning helped lead to a manufactured run on Andy Pages’ sacrifice fly. Mike Yastrzemski’s throw beat Will Smith to home plate but Andrew Knizner wasn’t able to maintain possession while applying the tag.
The Dodgers didn’t collect their first hit until Teoscar Hernández singled with one out in the fourth inning. It was followed by Max Muncy grounding into a double play. Hernández later hit a solo home run in the seventh inning to give him back-to-back games with a long ball since being moved down to batting fifth amid a prolonged slump.
Webb held the Dodgers to just the two runs over seven innings.
Giants, Dodgers tied atop NL West
With the result of Friday’s game, the Giants and Dodgers are now tied for first place in the National League West as both have a record of 41-29.
The weekend series is the first matchup between the longtime rivals this season. For the Dodgers, it’s part of a stretch of 10 consecutive games against either the San Diego Padres or Giants.
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