The Los Angeles Dodgers entered their Friday night match-up against the Texas Rangers, a 1.5 games behind the 1st place San Diego Padres, having won three straight. As for the Texas Rangers, in first place in the AL West, entered the 3-game series, winners of three straight, after sweeping the Los Angeles Angels in their last series.
With both teams looking for an edge in the opener, they sent their Ace picthers to the mound, and neither pitcher disappointed, as both Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Jacob deGrom tossed seven dominating innings proving the theatrics for the pitching gems.
1st Inning
In the first, the Dodgers struck first as Tommy Edman led off the game with his 7th home run of the season, on an 0-1 picth, laucnhing it over the right center field fence. DeGrom settled down and struck out the next two batters, before getting Teoascar Hernandez to fly out to right field to end the inning.
As for Yamamoto, he was able to get through the first inning unscathed, striking out the first two batters, then inducing a fly ball off the bat of Joc Pederson.
2nd Inning
deGrom went back to work in the second, and after giving up a two-out single to Max Muncy, he then retired Eddie Rosario on a fly out to center field.
Yamamoto survived a one out double, after striking out the lead-off batter and then struck out the next two batters on 14 pitches to end the frame.
3rd Inning
The Rangers righty walked Mookie Betts with two outs, but then Freddie Freeman grounded out to end the inning keeping the game at 1-0 Dodgers.
The Japanese import worked in and out of trouble, as he allowed a two-out single to Marcus Semien, and then a double to Corey Seager, moving the runner to thirs, but Yamamoto then calmly got Pederson to groundout to first base on a 76.5 MPH curveball to end the inning.
4th Inning
In the frame, deGrom tossed just 10 pitches on a 1-2-3 inning, striking out a batter bookmarked by a pop out and flyout.
Yamamoto once again allowed a two out hit, putting a runner in scoring position, only to kill the rally by striking out Jake Burger to end the threat.
5th inning
In the top of the fifth, deGrom kept his domimance going by retiring fifth, sixth and seventh straight batter, keeping his team with striking distance down 1-0.
The bottom of the frame, saw the Dodgers righty retire the side in order for the first time since the first inning of the game.
Tip of de cap. #AllForTX pic.twitter.com/deLkG0ttIz
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) April 19, 2025
6th Inning
Edman, who was responsbile for the only run of the game at that point, opened the frame with a single to right field. But he was quickly erased after attempting to steal second base, as he was thrown out by catcher Jonah Heim. deGrom then retired Betts and Freeman to end the inning.
The Rangers could not get anything going against Yamamoto, as they were set down in order again in the 6th inning, still trailing by a run.
7th Inning
In deGrom’s final inning of the game, and having thrown 82 pitches, he managed to stay under 100, by tossing 14 in the inning, retiring the side in order again, highlighted by his seventh K of the game.
Texas managed a one-out single, but that was quickly erased as Yamamoto struck out Burger and Dustin Harris was thrown out on the strikeout, attempting to steal second, on a strikeout double play.
With deGrom finally out of the game, the Dodgers managed two runs in the top of the ninth off Hoby Milner to pull away at 3-0, as the Rangers couldn’t capatlize after getting two runners on in the ninth, only to see the game end on an inning/game ending double play.
The only blemish on the night for deGrom was the first inning home run, as he dominated the potent Dodgers lineup going toe-to-toe with L.A.’s Ace.
Final Pitching Line:
Jacob deGrom – 7 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 Ks
Yoshinobu Yamamoto – 7 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 10 Ks
