Yoshinobu Yamamoto was flawless over his first five innings in the Dodgers’ 8-6 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium, giving up no hits, striking out seven and walking one.
“It comes down to starting pitching,” manager Dave Roberts said before the game. “And obviously it’s a young, hungry team out there. Came out last night swinging the bats, so it’d be nice to put up a zero, get a lead, and go from there.”
Roberts’ wish appeared granted, as the Dodgers led 3-0 in the first inning after Freddie Freeman ended his career-worst 47-game homer drought with a three-run blast against Cardinals left-hander Brycen Mautz. Mookie Betts added a two-run homer in the sixth.
But the once-cruising ace encountered turbulence. Yamamoto gave up a pair of two-run homers, with the Cardinals’ Thomas Saggese launching the first in the sixth inning and Leo Bernal the second in the seventh, pulling St. Louis to within 5-4.
Yamamoto’s night was done after seven innings. He threw 93 pitches, had eight strikeouts and gave up five hits, two walks and four runs, a few mistakes away from a completely different outing.
Closer Tanner Scott stepped in for the eighth, giving up a double to St. Louis’ Joshua Báez three pitches in. And after Ivan Herrera moved Báez to third on a groundout, Alec Burleson tied the score at five with a sacrifice fly to right.
Left-hander Jack Dreyer kept things stable with a clean ninth, and the game stretched to extra innings. However, in the 10th, Brock Stewart (0-2) uninspiringly gave up three runs. Orange County native Nathan Church got the Cardinals’ wheels turning with a single up the middle, advancing José Fermin to third. Saggese delivering the go-ahead run on an infield single. One pitch later, Báez essentially put the game out of reach with a two-run double.
The Dodgers (82-57) could get only one run in the bottom of the 10th on a groundout.
CT3 comes home
Chris Taylor, his wife, Mary, and son Theo watch a video tribute to his career before the start of Wednesday’s game.
(Ronaldo Bolaños / Los Angeles Times)
The Dodgers welcomed back former longtime utility player Chris Taylor to Dodger Stadium and presented him with a video tribute and his third World Series ring.
“It’s pretty much what I identify my career as — over 90% of my entire career was in Dodger blue,” Taylor said. “This is the place I call home. Always proud to be a Dodger, and it means a lot to me that they would do this for me. So, I’m extremely humbled.”
Taylor, a 12-year veteran who retired this season, said Wednesday night was the first time he was able to watch a game with his family.
Injury updates
Shohei Ohtani reacts after striking out in 10th inning Wednesday.
(Ronaldo Bolanos/Los Angeles Times)
Roberts said the plan still is for Shohei Ohtani to return to pitching this season. However, there is no timetable for when he’ll throw his next bullpen session.
“We’re not there quite yet, but it’s certainly an option,” Roberts said. He also shed light on some of the work Ohtani’s doing to get back on the mound.
“He’s doing plyos,” Roberts said, referring to plyometrics, or explosive training exercises. “He does that a handful of times a week. … That’s kind of where we’re at.”
Catcher Will Smith was given a breather after going one for five with two RBIs in his first game back from a three-month stint on the injured list on Tuesday.
“It was good to see him get a knock,” Roberts said. “I thought he swung the bat pretty well. So, it’s a premeditated day off today. He’ll be back in there tomorrow, but I guess no news is good news.”
It wasn’t a full day off, as Smith pinch-hit for Hunter Feduccia in the ninth and scored the Dodgers’ run in the 10th.
Right-hander Roki Sasaki’s blister is healing while he’s on the IL, so he shouldn’t miss additional time.
“I saw him yesterday at the end of the bench; it’s healing well,” Roberts said. “He’s still moving his arm, playing catch. So I think it’s going to be a shorter term getting him back.”
Roberts doesn’t yet know whether Sasaki will take a spot in rotation upon his return.
Another right-hander, Gavin Stone, who hasn’t pitched since August 2024 potentially could pitch this month, Roberts said. Stone recently made his fourth rehab start.
“Gavin’s been good,” Roberts said. “I think right now — and again, this is not talking to the guys in the, you know, player development — but it’s more of just getting him to stay upright, stay healthy, is the win for 2026.”
