Thursday, March 26, 2026

Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2026

On a picturesque Opening Day at Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium, the Los Angeles Dodgers smashed the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-to-2.

Despite having uncharacteristic control problems, Yoshinobu Yamamoto battled for six innings but allowed a two-run homer by Gerald Perdomo. The Diamondbacks’ aggressiveness helped Yamamoto to last that long.

Zac Gallen looked sharp after a poor 2025 season for him. He painted the corners until the fifth. However, the Dodgers’ patience paid off for Gallen. He ran into trouble in the fifth. After Max Muncy singled, and Teoscar Hernández reached on an infield single, Andy Pages socked a three-run homer. The Dodgers added another run in the fourth.

The Dodgers played sharp defense, which helped the pitchers.

To start the seventh, Shohei Ohtani was hit by a pitch. Kyle Tucker’s double, which was the first hit as a Dodger, drove Ohtani. Mookie Betts singled in Tucker. Will Smith blasted a two-run homer.

Entering the regular season, the Dodgers’ bullpen seemed to be the weak link. Nevertheless, Blake Treinen, Will Klein, and Tanner Scott dominated the Diamondbacks.

For one day, everything signaled the Dodgers would be playing in October.