Yamamoto Yoshinobu struck out 10 batters in a dominant performance, and Will Smith’s pinch-hit walk-off homer helped the Dodgers end their losing streak.

Yamamoto Yoshinobu delivered 7 innings with 10 strikeouts, successfully containing the Arizona Diamondbacks’ attack. Despite the bullpen’s mistakes that spoiled his chance for the win, the Dodgers’ regular catcher Will Smith, who was resting today, came off the bench in the bottom of the 9th to hit a walk-off solo homer. Ultimately, the Dodgers narrowly defeated the Diamondbacks 5-4, snapping a two-game losing streak and avoiding a sweep in this three-game series.

Yamamoto pitched 7 innings using 98 pitches, recording his third game this season with a season-high 10 strikeouts, and his second time striking out 10 without issuing any walks or hit-by-pitches. He allowed only 4 hits, with 3 of them coming in the top of the 4th inning leading to one run, but his overall 7-inning, 1-run performance was a crucial contribution when the team needed it most.

“Yoshinobu was outstanding,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “We needed him to deliver a strong performance, and he did just that.”

After scoring just one run combined in the first two games, the Dodgers’ lineup erupted for 10 hits today. Mookie Betts, Alex Verdugo, and Miguel Rojas each had two hits. Shohei Ohtani, going 1-for-4, opened the scoring with a hit in the bottom of the first inning, sparking a two-run rally. In the 4th and 5th innings, they collected two hits each and scored one run, taking a 4-1 lead.

The Diamondbacks managed 7 hits in total. Their star outfielder Corbin Carroll, who hit the game-winning solo homer yesterday, recorded two hits today, including a two-out three-run homer in the top of the 8th inning off Tanner Scott that tied the game.

However, in the bottom of the 9th, the Dodgers sent up Will Smith as a pinch hitter against reliever John Curtiss. With a 0-1 count, Smith crushed a 96.4 mph (155.14 km/h) fastball deep into the left-center field stands, ending the game with a single swing.

Smith had struggled in August, hitting just .138/.309/.231 over his last 20 games, but today he became the hero in a clutch pinch-hit appearance. Roberts said, “That was a huge hit. Will has been going through a tough stretch recently, but he’s been working hard in practice. It’s great to see this star player ready when the team needed him most.”