Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
After yesterday’s bludgeoning, today’s game figured to be more of a low-scoring affair with a pair of aces on the mound. Indeed, there weren’t anywhere near the fireworks, but Hyeseong Kim and Alex Freeland led the offense to enough runs to back Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who himself got an assist today from Alex Vesia‘s magic to secure a 4-1 victory that also makes it a series victory.
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For the Blue Jays, it was Kevin Gausman, and he started with a lead-off walk before retiring six batters in a row. But in the 3rd the bottom of the order rallied against him, as Hyeseong Kim doubled and then Alex Freeland laid down a sac bunt that Gausman hit him in the head with to allow him to reach.
LMAO pic.twitter.com/rTrvSftwrg
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) April 7, 2026
Shohei Ohtani then stepped up and rifled a ball to right that hit off the wall for a single that scored Kim, and later Will Smith managed to avoid an inning-ending double play for an RBI groundout to make it 2-0.
A two-spot in the third! pic.twitter.com/6bliU34KJ6
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 7, 2026
After a quiet 4th, the 5th started with a walk to Kim and he advanced on a balk when Gausman didn’t set. That led to Freeland singling him home to make it 3-0.
Freeland singles home a walk and a balk from Kim to make it 3-0. pic.twitter.com/qtnMR6bwGe
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) April 8, 2026
Gausman only got one out in the 6th, which was sandwiched between a pair of singles, leading to the pen entering and getting him out of the jam.
The Dodgers then stranded a lead-off double in the 7th and got nothing in the 8th.
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Before actually getting run support for once, Yoshinobu Yamamoto began by striking out the side in the 1st.
Yoshinobu picking up where he left off in Toronto. pic.twitter.com/GKnSmzrIvd
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 7, 2026
There was trouble to start the 2nd, as Kyle Tucker misplayed a liner hit at him for a double, but a couple lineouts and a strikeout later and there was no damage. The defense struck again in the 3rd when a two-out pop foul dropped between Freddie Freeman and Will Smith, but it thankfully wasn’t taken advantage of.
Things you don't see in AAA. pic.twitter.com/CAErocb3Hd
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) April 7, 2026
In the 4th, Yamamoto finally got defensive help as Hyeseong Kim spun a gem at short for an out, and then a slow curve got him a smile for another 1-2-3 frame.
Everybody loves watching Kim's D. pic.twitter.com/FUlnSCod7P
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) April 8, 2026
Yamamoto's curve gets a smile out of Sanchez. pic.twitter.com/H86tWeq0Mt
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) April 8, 2026
After an eight-pitch inning in the 5th, Yamamoto looked to be cruising, but he ran into trouble in the 6th. A lead-off single from Andres Gimenez was advanced to second on a groundout and then cashed in by a George Springer double to make it 3-1.
THE BLUE JAYS ARE ON THE BOARD ☝️ pic.twitter.com/8IyGjIdVjB
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 8, 2026
A walk followed to put a pair on as Yoshi began to labor, but he got back-to-back grounders to get out of it. Surprisingly, Dave Roberts let him come out for the 7th to face two righties. That backfired as a strikeout was reversed and resulted in a double, then a bunt single put a pair on, and Yamamoto’s night was done.
Dominant through five innings but began to falter a bit after: 6 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 6 K, 97 Pitches.
That one remained up there thanks to miraculous work from Alex Vesia. He started by issuing a walk to load things up, but then got a flyout to shallow left, a massive strikeout, and then a routine flyout to right that ended the threat. Absolutely massive.
Vesia gets out of bases loaded and nobody out, makes Yoshi happy. pic.twitter.com/0bstFpQV8Z
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) April 8, 2026
Blake Treinen was going to enter for the last batter of the 7th, but got the 8th instead against the heart of the order, and he went 1-2-3.
It looked like the Dodger bats would go quiet for the final four innings, but with two outs in the 9th, Alex Freeland hit a ball to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and he threw wild, then their catcher threw the ball away to put him at second. Kyle Tucker took advantage of that with a single to make it 4-1 Dodgers.
Benny Hill Music Plays pic.twitter.com/DnI2Nxlopl
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) April 8, 2026
After an intentional walk to Ohtani, Tucker rips a single to right for an insurance run. pic.twitter.com/ybjzjjAZA9
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) April 8, 2026
That led to Edwin Diaz entering for the 9th to close it out, and while he had a bit of excitement with a walk and a single, he did strike out three to get the save.
Edwin gets the save in Toronto! pic.twitter.com/BKIhvU4HME
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 8, 2026
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Before the game it was announced that Miguel Rojas was scratched due to a family matter and replaced in the lineup by Hyeseong Kim. Hope everything is alright.
Miguel Rojas was scratched from the lineup to tend to a family matter.
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 7, 2026
Shohei Ohtani got hit by Brandon Valenzuela but looked alright.
Valenzuela ends up sorta popping Ohtani in the funny bone on a backpick attempt. Both are staying in the game. pic.twitter.com/fIH5mB6r19
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) April 8, 2026
Not sure if this was him, but somebody yelled it real loud. https://t.co/nIzJzPhC8l pic.twitter.com/NKGMMvkMsF
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) April 8, 2026
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9-2
The series will conclude way-too-early tomorrow at 9:07 AM HT/12:07 PM PT/3:07 PM ET with Shohei Ohtani on the bump looking to build off his first start against a familiar foe in Dylan Cease.
