Dodgers can’t overcome first-inning hole in loss to Giants

TL;DR

The Dodgers lost to the Giants 3-1 after falling behind in the first inning, managing only three hits throughout the game. Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched well after the rough start, but the Dodgers struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities.

Key points

Dodgers lost 3-1 to the Giants on April 21, 2026
Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched seven innings after a rough first inning
Shohei Ohtani matched Dodgers' longest on-base streak at 53 games
Dodgers had five strikeouts with runners in scoring position
Next game is on April 22, 2026, with Ohtani pitching

Los Angeles DodgersSan Francisco Giants

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 21: Teoscar Hernández #37 and Alex Call #12 of the Los Angeles Dodgers collide as Call catches a ball hit by Casey Schmitt #10 of the San Francisco Giants in the first inning at Oracle Park on April 21, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images The highest-scoring team in the majors managed only three hits on Tuesday night at Oracle Park, and when the Giants scored three runs in the first inning that proved to be enough to beat the Dodgers 3-1 in the series opener in San Francisco. Chaos reigned in the bottom of the first inning, beginning with Hyeseong Kim airmailing a throw from shortstop into the Giants dugout. Yoshinobu Yamamoto issued only his fourth walk of the season and loaded the bases before recording an out. All three runners scored during the four-hit frame, including on a sacrifice fly in which Teoscar Hernández collided with Alex Call, who started in center field with Andy Pages getting his first off day of the season (at least until pinch-hitting in the ninth. But after that 26-pitch first inning, Yamamoto locked in, retiring 11 in a row and 16 out of 17 batters at one point, enough to get through seven innings without allowing another run, and on just 101 pitches to boot. Yamamoto *nearly* gave up a fourth run thanks to a pair of two-out hits in the sixth, but ’s mad dash around the bases in the rain was for naught, thrown out at home plate trying to score on a single. Yamamoto followed this by striking out the side in the seventh inning, completing his night. MLB teams through Monday had a .674 winning percentage when their starting pitcher completed at least six innings this season. The Dodgers are now 12-3 (.800) in those games after Tuesday’s loss. Two of the three losses are Yamamoto starts. The Dodgers managed only one single off , though they *did* make him work. He walked four batters in the fourth inning alone, though the Dodgers scored only once in the frame, which ended on a double play grounder by Call. Roupp needed 106 pitches to complete five innings thanks in part to five walks, the most by any pitcher against the Dodgers this year. It might have been six walks, but seemed allergic to challenging what appeared to a three-ball pitch outside the strike zone . Roupp was able to limit the damage during his outing thanks to seven strikeouts. It only took two batters after Roupp exited for a Dodger to reach second base on his own volition, thanks to a Teoscar Hernández one-out double into left field in the sixth inning. But struck out and flew out on the first pitch he saw to end that rare threat by the Dodgers on Tuesday. singled in the seventh inning, extending his on-base streak to 53 games, matching Shawn Green (2000) for the longest streak in Los Angeles Dodgers history. In modern franchise history (since 1900), only Duke Snider’s 58-game on-base streak in 1954 for Brooklyn is longer than Ohtani’s. It’s also the longest MLB on-base streak since Orlando Cabrera reached in 63 straight games for the Angels in 2006. Ohtani’s single put another runner in scoring position, but struck out. had the tying run either on base or at the plate in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings, but was hitless in five at-bats with runners in scoring position on Tuesday, with three strikeouts.

Q&A

What caused the Dodgers to lose against the Giants on April 21, 2026?

The Dodgers lost due to a poor first inning where the Giants scored three runs, which the Dodgers could not overcome despite a solid pitching performance from Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

How did Yoshinobu Yamamoto perform in the game against the Giants?

Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched seven innings, allowing three runs on six hits, with two walks and seven strikeouts after a challenging first inning.

What was Shohei Ohtani's achievement in the game against the Giants?

Shohei Ohtani extended his on-base streak to 53 games, matching Shawn Green for the longest streak in Dodgers history.

What are the upcoming match details for the Dodgers against the Giants?

The Dodgers will face the Giants again on April 22, 2026, with Shohei Ohtani pitching for the Dodgers at 6:45 p.m.