Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
Fresh off completing their homestand with a five-game winning streak, the Dodgers started their road trip with a surprising pitchers’ duel against the Braves. Yoshinobu Yamamoto was back to his regularly sharp self over six shutout, but Grant Holmes was also his best before relenting some runs late in his outing. Fortunately, that was enough as the pen clung on through a rain delay to complete the 2-1 victory.
That’s six straight.
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Doing his best ace impression, Grant Holmes started the game by setting down the first 10 batters he faced, making for a rather boring time. It was luck that really got the Dodgers offense going in the 4th, as with one down Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman both reached on infield singles — one off Holmes’ body and one of Matt Olson‘s glove — then Teoscar Hernandez walked to load the bases and Will Smith came through with his common sac fly for a 1-0 lead.
After Holmes uncorked a wild pitch, two were in scoring position for Max Muncy, but he struck out to end the threat in the 4th.
Following the walk in that inning, Holmes basically retired the next six, but then Mookie hit his fifth homer to make it 2-0 in the 6th. It was his first since April 14.
Mookie hits his first homer since April 14. Getting going perhaps. pic.twitter.com/Yped0ahoau
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 3, 2025
Holmes also started the 7th, but allowed a lead-off single and that was the end of his night as the pen completed that inning without further damage.
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Fortunately, despite struggling in the box, the Dodgers had the lead thanks to their starter.
Coming off his worst start of the season — in which he allowed just one earned, mind you — Yoshinobu Yamamoto was back on the mound and resumed his Cy Young Award campaign.
He issued a two-out walk to Marcell Ozuna in the 1st and then set down the next eight hitters before walking Ozuna again with one out in the 4th. No matter, as he resumed his dominance by setting down the next seven before Austin Riley broke up his no-hit bid in the 6th with a two-out double before Yoshi finally got Ozuna out to end the frame.
He did get some help from his defense along the way, like this stellar play from Freddie.
Freddie flashing the D in his old home. pic.twitter.com/IJpzhrF6aW
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 2, 2025
A great outing against a hot Braves offense, missing his share of bats but otherwise keeping the ball on the ground: 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K, 91 Pitches.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto strikes out six over six innings of one-hit ball. pic.twitter.com/mSyJL8MGMc
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) May 3, 2025
In relief of him was Kirby Yates in the 7th, and he immediately allowed a solo shot to Olson that cut the lead to 2-1. He did get the rest of the frame in order, but yeesh.
Matt Olson goes deep! pic.twitter.com/u6empK7d8H
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) May 3, 2025
After the Dodgers were unable to get insurance in the 8th, it was Tanner Scott getting a clean frame … barely before the rain struck.
Following the delay of around 70 minutes, the bats were again impotent in the 9th, and so Evan Phillips was left to protect a one-run lead against the heart of the Braves order. He started out well with back-to-back strikeouts, but then issued a 3-2 walk before getting a weak comebacker to seal the victory.
Close it out, Evan! pic.twitter.com/roJ8cKi1y5
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 3, 2025
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| NL West | Record | GB |
|---|---|---|
| Dodgers | 22-10 | – |
| Padres | 19-11* | 2 |
| Giants | 19-13* | 3 |
The two teams will do it again tomorrow on the national broadcast of FOX at 1:15 PM HT/4:15 PM PT/7:15 PM ET. It’ll be Roki Sasaki looking to continue refining his craft against budding ace Spencer Schwellenbach.
