In a thrilling showdown at Dodger Stadium, the New York Yankees rebounded with a decisive 7-3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday, ensuring they avoided their first series sweep this season. Rookie pitcher Ryan Yarbrough shone brightly against this season’s potent offense, allowing just four hits across six innings. Ben Rice broke the deadlock with a two-run homer, further solidifying the Yankees’ lead.
The Yankees faced a daunting challenge after being outscored 26-7 in the first two games of the World Series rematch, which included a striking 18-2 defeat on Saturday. Right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, a critical asset in their injury-plagued rotation, struggled early as 54,031 fans packed the stadium, marking the largest attendance this season.
Ryan Yarbrough, now holding a 3-0 record, only allowed a single run and notched up five strikeouts during his fifth start of the year. Interestingly, Yarbrough served as a reliever for the Dodgers in the previous season and was in town to collect his World Series ring.
On the other hand, Yoshinobu Yamamoto encountered his challenges, conceding seven hits and striking out two over just 3 2/3 innings—his shortest outing this season. The Japanese pitcher was tagged for four runs and issued three walks.
Making history in New York’s offense was DJ LeMahieu, who achieved his first four-hit game since 2021. The Yankees set the pace with an early lead thanks to Jasson Domínguez’s RBI single in the first inning, followed by a defensive misthrow by left fielder Andy Pages. However, Domínguez had to leave the game later due to a bruised left thumb.
Tommy Edman brought the game level with a two-out homer in the second inning, but Yarbrough proved dominant thereafter, retiring 13 out of the following 15 batters he faced. The Dodgers attempted a late rally with home runs from Pages and Max Muncy in the seventh.
The Yankees stamped their authority in the third inning with a 4-1 lead as Ben Rice’s prodigious 425-foot homer scored Aaron Judge. The gap widened to 6-1 in the fifth through RBI singles from LeMahieu and Oswald Peraza against reliever Lou Trivino. LeMahieu’s RBI double in the ninth added the final flourish to the 7-3 scoreline.
Despite the excitement, stars Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani failed to register a hit, despite their historic homering achievements on Friday. Judge ended 0 for 4, with a walk and two strikeouts, making him the only hitless Yankee, while Ohtani went 0 for 4 with one strikeout.
Key stats highlighted the Yankees’ resilience as they remain undefeated when facing a potential series sweep, achieving crucial wins against teams like Arizona, Detroit, Cleveland, and the Dodgers. Moreover, the Dodgers experienced a rare collective off-day, with their top four hitters—Ohtani, Teoscar Hernández, Freddie Freeman, and Will Smith—all going hitless for the first time this season.
The Yankees enjoy a day of rest before sending LHP Carlos Rodón, boasting a 7-3 record with a 2.60 ERA, to the mound against Cleveland on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Dodgers will prepare right-hander Dustin May, who holds a 3-4 record and a 4.20 ERA, for a Monday night encounter against the New York Mets.