Dodgers Fall to Arizona Diamondbacks 5-3 After Yamamoto Surrenders First Career Grand Slam and Offense Struggles Deeply

The Los Angeles Dodgers walked into Chase Field on Thursday night looking to extend their early-season dominance, but the Arizona Diamondbacks had other plans. Powered by a decisive grand slam and capitalizing on a rare off-night from Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Diamondbacks outplayed Los Angeles in a 5-3 victory that handed LA its 13th loss of the year. The Dodgers, who entered the game with a 25-12 record, saw their offense fall flat and their prized Japanese ace surrender the biggest blow of his brief MLB career.

In front of a lively Arizona crowd, Yamamoto took the mound with a 4-0 record and a growing reputation as one of baseball’s most polished newcomers. But in the bottom of the fourth inning, everything unraveled. After loading the bases with two singles and a walk, Yamamoto faced Arizona’s left-handed slugger Lourdes Gurriel Jr., who worked the count full before launching a towering shot into the left-field bleachers. The grand slam was the first of Gurriel’s season — and the first Yamamoto has ever allowed in professional baseball, including his storied career in Japan.

The blast gave the Diamondbacks a 4-0 lead, and though Yamamoto settled down somewhat after that inning, the damage had been done. In total, the right-hander pitched five innings, allowing five hits, five earned runs, two walks, and striking out six. It was easily his most difficult start in a Dodgers uniform, and it served as a humbling reminder that even elite arms are vulnerable on any given night in the majors.

Offensively, the Dodgers struggled mightily, mustering only six hits through the first eight innings. Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani, and Freddie Freeman — the trio at the top of LA’s star-studded lineup — went a combined 2-for-11 with one walk and four strikeouts. For most of the game, they looked overmatched by Arizona starter Brandon Pfaadt, who continued to show flashes of the promise that carried him through the postseason in 2023. Pfaadt worked 6.2 innings, allowing just two runs while striking out seven and walking one.

Los Angeles did make things mildly interesting in the late innings, scoring a pair in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by James Outman and a two-out RBI single from Gavin Lux. But the Diamondbacks’ bullpen, which has been inconsistent at times this season, held firm under pressure. Kevin Ginkel worked a clean eighth inning before Paul Sewald shut the door in the ninth, earning his first save of the season after returning from a months-long stint on the injured list.

One of the most frustrating aspects of the loss for the Dodgers was their inability to cash in on scoring opportunities. They left six runners on base, grounded into a pair of double plays, and struck out nine times as a team. For a lineup that entered the series averaging nearly six runs per game, the lack of clutch hitting stood out.

Manager Dave Roberts didn’t mince words in his postgame comments, pointing to poor execution and a need for more consistent approaches at the plate.

“We just didn’t get it done,” Roberts said. “Yamamoto gave up the big swing, but other than that, he battled. We had chances late and didn’t capitalize. That’s baseball, but it’s one we have to learn from.”

Yamamoto, who has been largely brilliant since arriving from Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball league this season, remained composed when speaking to reporters after the game. With the help of a translator, he took responsibility for the pivotal pitch and praised Gurriel’s ability to stay patient.

“I made a mistake,” Yamamoto said. “The pitch was not where I wanted it, and he took advantage. I will learn from it.”

The loss doesn’t significantly alter the Dodgers’ position in the National League standings — they still hold a comfortable lead in the NL West — but it does serve as a timely reminder that every team, even the deepest and most expensive rosters, have flaws. The bullpen pitched well after Yamamoto’s exit, with Ryan Yarbrough and Blake Treinen combining for three scoreless innings, but the offense couldn’t provide enough support to mount a comeback.

Arizona, meanwhile, improved to 19-19 with the win and gained a bit of momentum as they try to find their stride after an up-and-down April. Gurriel’s grand slam was the highlight of the night, but the D-backs also saw solid performances from Ketel Marte (2-for-4) and Corbin Carroll, who drew two walks and scored a run. While the Diamondbacks remain several games back of the Dodgers, Thursday’s win was a confidence boost for a team that knows it can compete with the division’s elite when everything clicks.

One key stat that illustrates how off the Dodgers were: they didn’t record an extra-base hit until the eighth inning, when Will Smith doubled into the left-center gap. By that point, they were already trailing 5-2, and the hit failed to spark a rally. Chris Taylor, who has struggled mightily this season, struck out with two runners on to end the frame, and the momentum was gone.

Another concern is Max Muncy’s continued slump. The veteran infielder went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts, and his season average has dipped below .200. Roberts was asked if Muncy might get a day off soon to reset mentally, and the manager acknowledged that it’s something the staff will consider.

“We’re always looking for ways to get guys right,” Roberts said. “Sometimes that means a day off, sometimes a tweak in approach. Max is working hard, and he’ll break out of it.”

The Dodgers will look to bounce back in the second game of the series, with veteran left-hander James Paxton scheduled to take the mound. Arizona counters with right-hander Ryne Nelson, who has had an uneven start to the year but has shown flashes of potential. LA’s offense will need to regroup quickly if they want to avoid dropping the series and giving the Diamondbacks more life in the NL West race.

Despite the loss, there were some bright spots for the Dodgers. Lux continued to look comfortable at the plate, finishing 2-for-4 with a stolen base and an RBI. His return from a torn ACL that wiped out his 2023 season has been one of the more encouraging developments for the team. Additionally, Treinen’s scoreless inning was a positive sign as he continues working back to form following multiple injuries.

Still, the main storyline remains Yamamoto and the grand slam that shifted the game. It’s rare to see such a dominant pitcher give up a single swing that dictates the outcome, but that’s precisely what happened. The pitch in question — a splitter that stayed up in the zone — was left in a hittable spot, and Gurriel didn’t miss.

“Sometimes, the best way to learn is through failure,” Roberts said. “He’ll be better for it.”

The Dodgers will need him to be. With the season approaching its 40-game mark, the team is still adjusting to new roles, integrating free-agent signings like Ohtani and Teoscar Hernández, and managing the expectations that come with being perennial World Series favorites. Yamamoto, despite Thursday’s blemish, remains a key piece of that puzzle, and there’s little doubt that his next start will be closely watched.

For now, though, the night belongs to the Diamondbacks. Their fans, who had little to cheer about in the early going this season, finally got a big moment to celebrate. Gurriel’s grand slam was the kind of game-changing swing that can spark a turnaround — and it came against one of the best young pitchers in baseball.

The Dodgers, meanwhile, must regroup and refocus. They’ve built a team capable of winning a championship, but nights like this remind them that the road will be anything but easy. A five-run inning, a missed opportunity, and a quiet lineup — all of it contributed to a tough loss that dropped them to 25-13 on the year.

Baseball has a way of humbling even its best teams. For the Dodgers, Thursday night in Phoenix was one of those times.