The Dodgers edged the Blue Jays in a tight game dominated early by starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto and keyed by a three-run third inning that included a two-run single from a slumping Mookie Betts. Yamamoto beat Toronto for the second time in a week, and Los Angeles managed to hold a slender lead despite pressure late. This was another showing of the Dodgers’ mix of starting talent and timely offense against a persistent Toronto club.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto came out with clear command and held the Blue Jays to minimal damage through his outing. He repeated a strong performance against Toronto after recently beating them once already, adding confidence to his rotation spot. The right-hander’s early innings set the tone and forced Toronto to play from behind for most of the afternoon.
The Dodgers’ offense got a jump in the third inning when Mookie Betts, who had been struggling at the plate, ripped a two-run single as part of a three-run frame. That hit was a shot of life for Betts and it squashed some of the doubt around his slump, at least for a few innings. The timing mattered most, since those runs gave Yamamoto and the bullpen a cushion to protect.
Los Angeles managed to squeeze runs at crucial moments and that helped carry them through a few tense stretches later in the game. The lineup didn’t need a big blowout; instead, it relied on a short, effective rally in the middle innings. Small-ball pieces and situational hitting combined to make the difference when the game tightened up.
Toronto showed fight, putting together chances against the Dodgers’ bullpen and testing the depth late. A few baserunners in the seventh and eighth kept fans on edge and reminded everyone this was a one-run game for a reason. The Blue Jays’ persistence kept the scoreboard interesting, but they couldn’t push across enough runs to overtake Los Angeles.
The Dodgers’ relief corps did what was necessary to preserve the lead, working through traffic without surrendering the margin. Clean innings from the middle relievers allowed the closer to enter with some breathing room. That tidy work from the bullpen has been a recurring theme and it paid off this outing when every run mattered.
Mookie Betts’ two-run single served more than just the scoreboard; it also served as a morale boost for him and the lineup. Betts has struggled recently, and this kind of timely hit can steady a slumping bat and influence how pitchers approach the rest of the order. Moments like this can shift momentum in a long season even if they look small on the box score.
Yamamoto’s outing reinforced the idea that elite starting pitching shortens games for the opposition and raises the margin for error. When a starter limits traffic and keeps the pitch count manageable, the bullpen can operate in cleaner innings and the manager has more options late. Yamamoto provided that foundation and the Dodgers took advantage.
The result matters for team dynamics and the standings groove as both clubs chase their seasonal goals. A win like this builds faith in the rotation and the bench pieces that appeared when called upon. For Toronto, the loss is another reminder that timely hitting in key innings is still the difference between a comeback and a close defeat.
Both teams will turn their focus quickly to what’s next, knowing how swiftly momentum can change in a long schedule. The Dodgers will look to keep Yamamoto effective and hope Betts finds more consistent swings. Toronto will regroup, search for answers in its lineup, and try to find ways to crack the late-game code against strong bullpens.
