SAN FRANCISCO -- On the heels of a week-long slump, the Dodgers were able to build some momentum heading into the All-Star break.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto capped a strong first half with seven scoreless innings before the Dodgers rallied for three runs in the 11th inning, sending the Dodgers to a 5-2 win over the Giants in Sunday afternoon's finale at Oracle Park.
The Dodgers had to fight to take the series against their longtime rivals, carrying a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the ninth before Tanner Scott surrendered a game-tying two-run blast to pinch-hitter Luis Matos. Neither team scored in the 10th before L.A. got back in front in the 11th, getting RBI singles from Freddie Freeman, Teoscar Hernández and Andy Pages.
The Dodgers have won two in a row following a season-high seven-game losing streak, and they'll get four days to reset before the second half is underway.
“Yamamoto really stepped up for us today," manager Dave Roberts said. "Really was in complete control. … Made it interesting at the end. But guys took good at-bats and scored runs in the 11th, and found a way to win a game."
Before the late-inning drama, Yamamoto was able to return to form after lasting only two-thirds of an inning -- the shortest outing of his big league career -- on Monday, one day after he received his first MLB All-Star nod. His seven innings on Sunday matched his longest start of the season (also April 18 at Rangers, May 20 vs. D-backs and July 1 vs. White Sox).
In a duel of 2025 All-Stars, Yamamoto outlasted the Giants' Robbie Ray, striking out seven and scattering three hits and two walks in a dominant afternoon on the mound.
Ray tossed three perfect innings to begin the afternoon before issuing back-to-back walks to Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts to open the fourth. With one out, Freeman notched the Dodgers' first hit of the day with a double to right field, scoring Ohtani. Miguel Rojas padded the lead with a no-doubt solo shot off Ray in the fifth.
Yamamoto finished the first half with a 2.59 ERA and will head to Atlanta for his first Midsummer Classic on a high note. He will not be available to pitch on Tuesday, but he's looking forward to watching the events and spending time around some of the best players in the game.
While Yamamoto emerged as the staff ace in the first half, he also saw some inconsistency after the first month and change. He posted a 0.90 ERA in his first seven starts -- when he was working on six days' rest -- but has recorded a 3.64 ERA in his past 12 starts, pitching on five days' rest.
"Reflecting back," Yamamoto said through interpreter Yoshihiro Sonoda, "I think there was too much difference between when I was good and when I was bad. I think that's something that I need to work on getting into the [second] half of the season."
As for the Dodgers, they finish the first half with a 5 1/2-game lead atop the NL West and a 58-39 record that ranks second-best in the Majors, one game behind the Tigers. They're in a good spot, but their manager isn't quite satisfied.
"I think the win-loss, the standings are great," Roberts said. "But I think there’s just a lot of improvement that we need to do, we need to be better at. But yeah, I think the end of the day, it is about wins and losses. But I’m more excited and happy that we won a series. And expect us to come out guns blazing."
Roberts would like to see improvement across the board from his team, with some of the biggest issues prevalent in Sunday's win. Scott's inconsistency is one thing the Dodgers need to clean up. The offense through the game's first 10 innings is another.
The Dodgers scuffled at the plate as they dropped seven of nine games heading into the break, scoring two runs or fewer in six games in that span. But they believe the lack of production is not a lasting concern -- especially with the chance to take a beat over the All-Star break.
"It's the ebbs and flows of a baseball season. It's going to happen," Freeman said. "A couple of us got hurt, some of our guys, and kind of limped into the finish line here to the second half. But four days off comes at the right time."