Red Sox 3, Dodgers 2: Missed chances lead to first series loss since the All-Star break

The best pitching matchup for the series on paper delivered on that promise tonight, as it was a low-scoring affair throughout. Unfortunately, it was the Red Sox who got the last run as the Dodgers fell 3-2.

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The Dodgers got just a couple runs against Peyton Tolle, coming on a two-run homer from Teoscar Hernandez in the 2nd inning.

Teoscar? Teoscar. The Dodgers lead just like that. pic.twitter.com/XsYQUH2GVE

— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) August 2, 2026

Unfortunately, they couldn’t capitalize on their other chances against him, as after a single Shohei Ohtani ran into a double play on a flyout in the 1st, a single, double, and intentional walk was stranded after the homer in the 2nd, a walk was erased by a double play in the 3rd, a lead-off single was left in the 4th, Andy Pages got to second base safely in the 5th but popped off the bag to get tagged out to erase a potential chance, and a pair of singles also went for nothing in the 6th.

惜しい！

Andy Pages #Dodgers ©SportsNetLA pic.twitter.com/evb8DSt1Hn

— 【MLB速報】放送地区【大谷速報】 (@MLB_comment) August 2, 2026

Not a great showing from the bats.

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Meanwhile, Yoshinobu Yamamoto was on the bump for the Dodgers and was great … aside from one guy in Ceddanne Rafaela, who homered off him in the 1st and then again in the 3rd.

Less than 24 hours later, it's Ceddanne again! pic.twitter.com/ZEks3Q0MR1

— Red Sox (@RedSox) August 2, 2026

No, you're not rewatching Ceddanne's 1st inning HR.

This is his 3rd inning HR! pic.twitter.com/yqjQj7WohL

— Red Sox (@RedSox) August 2, 2026

He did not allow a hit to any other player through seven innings otherwise. Yamamoto did walk a guy in the 2nd, but that and the homers was literally it.

The 8th unfortunately broke up that trend, as a lead-off double was followed by a bunt single to corner the runners with nobody out. A soft fliner was then hit to short, and since Dave Roberts elected to play the middle infielders back, Mookie Betts took the double play instead of risking the play at home (looked possible) and the Red Sox took a 3-2 lead.

Yamamoto was mostly great again, just the mistakes were hit: 8 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 96 Pitches.

Alex Vesia then entered for the 9th and got a 1-2-3 frame.

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The Red Sox pen entered in the 7th with Justin Slaten, who cruised through a clean frame, and then they came with Tyron Guerrero. He gave up a single but that was it in the 8th, and of course it was Aroldis Chapman in the 9th, who had no issues in the 9th.

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69-42, first series loss of the second half.

The series ends tomorrow around a couple hours earlier at 1:20 PM HT/4:20 PM PT/7:20 PM ET on NBC and Peacock. It’ll be Emmet Sheehan up against Jake Bennett.