Yoshinobu Yamamoto was untouchable on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, spinning seven shutout innings with seven strikeouts and allowing just one hit as the Los Angeles Dodgers blanked the Cincinnati Reds 4-0 at Great American Ball Park. Teoscar Hernández supplied the big blow with a two-run home run, Alex Freeland added a solo shot, and Freddie Freeman went 3-for-5 to keep Los Angeles's bats humming. The Dodgers' pitching staff completed the shutout in nine innings, with Brock Stewart and Tanner Scott finishing what Yamamoto started.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto Shuts Down the Reds Lineup

Yamamoto's line was about as clean as it gets: 7.0 innings, one hit, two walks, zero earned runs, and seven strikeouts. The lone hit he surrendered came from Elly De La Cruz, who finished 2-for-3 but was stranded both times. For six-plus innings, Cincinnati's hitters had no answers for Yamamoto, who consistently worked ahead in counts and kept the Reds off the bases.

Rhett Lowder took the loss for Cincinnati, giving up three earned runs on five hits over five innings with four strikeouts and two walks. The Reds cycled through four relievers — Julian Garcia, Pierce Johnson, Graham Ashcraft, and Tejay Antone — to cover the final four frames, but the damage was already done.

Hernández and Freeland Provide the Power

The Dodgers did not need much offense behind Yamamoto, but they got enough to make it comfortable. Teoscar Hernández connected for a two-run home run, going 1-for-3 on the night and accounting for two of Los Angeles's four runs. Alex Freeland went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an RBI, giving the Dodgers back-to-back dangerous bats in the middle of the lineup.

Freddie Freeman was the engine at the top, going 3-for-5 and putting consistent pressure on Cincinnati's pitching staff throughout the night. Though Freeman did not drive in a run, his three hits kept innings alive and forced Lowder to work from behind early.

Turning Point: The Dodgers Strike Early Against Lowder

The game's decisive stretch came while Lowder was still on the mound. He surrendered three earned runs across his five innings, unable to match Yamamoto's zero-cost efficiency on the other side. Once Los Angeles built a multi-run cushion with Yamamoto rolling through the Cincinnati lineup, the outcome was never seriously in doubt.

Brock Stewart handled the eighth inning cleanly, allowing one hit with a strikeout and no runs. Tanner Scott then closed it out in the ninth with a dominant frame — three strikeouts, one hit, one walk, and no runs — to complete the shutout and lock down the 4-0 final.

Dodgers Bullpen Completes a Nine-Inning Shutout

The combined effort from Yamamoto, Stewart, and Scott was a comprehensive pitching performance. Yamamoto earned the win, Lowder absorbed the loss, and the Reds mustered just two hits on the night — both belonging to De La Cruz — against the Los Angeles staff as a whole.

Key Performances at a Glance

  • Yoshinobu Yamamoto (W): 7.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K
  • Teoscar Hernández: 1-for-3, 1 HR, 2 RBI
  • Alex Freeland: 2-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI
  • Freddie Freeman: 3-for-5
  • Tanner Scott: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
  • Rhett Lowder (L): 5.0 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
  • Elly De La Cruz: 2-for-3 (lone Reds highlight)

The Dodgers move on from Cincinnati with a clean win, a pristine outing from their ace, and contributions spread across the lineup. Yamamoto's performance and the bullpen's shutdown work made this one a wire-to-wire statement in the 2026 regular season.