Yamamoto’s Near No-Hitter Ends in Unexpected Dodgers Defeat

There’s something special about September 6 at Camden Yards. Yoshinobu Yamamoto almost marked this date yet again by being one out away from achieving a no-hitter, but instead, it was turned into another loss for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Yamamoto was on his way to a no-hitter game when he unexpectedly allowed a home run to Baltimore’s Jackson Holliday. Following the home run, the Orioles initiated a four-run rally in the bottom of the ninth, triumphing over the Dodgers by 4-3 on Saturday. This marks the Dodgers’ fifth consecutive loss, thereby missing the opportunity to lead the NL West as they stay neck and neck with second-place San Diego.

“It’s hard to recount a game like this where there’s so many things you feel like you can get a little bit of momentum, build off a great outing by Yoshinobu and take that into tomorrow,” Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said. “And obviously it completely flipped.”

The Orioles celebrated the victory despite experiencing a lackluster season overall. The night marked a special anniversary, paying tribute to Cal Ripken Jr.’s 2,131st consecutive game, a record he set on September 6, 1995, breaking Lou Gehrig’s record.

The last significant achievement at Camden Yards was Eddie Murray’s 500th home run on September 6, 1996. Looking back, it seemed possible for Yamamoto to add to the history of the ballpark; instead, it was the Orioles who made the night special.

Yamamoto, the right-hander from Japan, could only allow two baserunners until the ninth inning. Holliday was the game changer, as his drive just cleared the fence on the right. Following that, Roberts decided to retire Yamamoto, who had reached his career-high with 10 strikeouts and 112 pitches.

The Dodgers’ momentum took an unfortunate turn when Blake Treinen took Yamamoto’s place on the mound, only to give the Orioles the opening they needed. Treinen allowed a double to Jeremiah Jackson, hit Gunnar Henderson and walked both Ryan Mountcastle and Colton Cowser.

The game witnessed a turning point when Tanner Scott came in with the bases loaded and gave up Rivera’s single to the center. Emmanuel Rivera’s two-run single was the definitive strike that won the game for the Orioles.

Before the game, Cal Ripken was honored in a ceremony attended by Hall of Famers Eddie Murray, Jim Palmer, Mike Mussina, Eddie Murray, Ken Griffey Jr., and WNBA star Caitlin Clark. The historic night ended without a no-hitter in the major leagues for 2025.