Dodgers' Mookie Betts ruined Yoshinobu Yamamoto's perfect game bid and shot at MLB history

The Los Angeles Dodgers have been on a roll lately, and getting healthier has been a major reason why. Los Angeles is chasing its third consecutive World Series championship and continues to look like one of baseball's most complete teams.

Last October, Yoshinobu Yamamoto was the World Series MVP, and he has carried that success into this season. On Saturday, he was just four outs away from a perfect game when Mookie Betts booted a routine ground ball.

“An error on a routine play from Mookie Betts puts an end to Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s perfect game bid. He’s still 3 outs away from throwing a no-hitter,” Dodgers beat writer Blake Harris wrote.

Not only did Yamamoto have a chance at a perfect game, but he was also one out away from tying an MLB record. Had he recorded the final out of the eighth inning, it would have marked the 46th consecutive batter he retired, tying the record set by Yusmeiro Petit in 2014.

“Oh man. Mookie Betts just booted a grounder at shortstop on what looked like a high hop at the last second. Official scorer immediately rules it an error, so the no-hitter is still alive. But Yamamoto falls one out short of the MLB record for consecutive batters retired,” California Post’s Jack Harris wrote.

It was an unfortunate moment for Yamamoto, who had been cruising through the game. Betts is one of the last players anyone would expect to make an error on a routine ground ball, but mistakes are part of baseball. Yamamoto carried his no-hitter into the final inning before surrendering a solo home run to Tristan Peters.

What could have been one of the most historic starts of Yamamoto's career instead became a performance that came painfully close to multiple milestones. Betts will almost certainly feel responsible for the missed opportunity, but Yamamoto's outing once again proved that his dominance is no fluke and that he remains one of the best pitchers in baseball.

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