Blab Sports
Yamamotos Perfect-Game Bid Ends with Betts Error; No-Hit Stays Intact
On Saturday, June 13, 2026, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ right‑hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto carried a perfect game into the bottom of the eighth inning at Rate Field in Chicago. The Japanese‑born pitcher had retired the first 23 batters he faced, leaving the Dodgers with a 7‑2‑3‑0 advantage after seven innings. The 7‑1 win was the Dodgers’ first of the season and represented the most dominant outing of Yamamoto’s MLB career.
Yamamoto’s bid for perfection was halted when Chase Meidroth hit a weak ground ball to the left side of the infield with two outs in the bottom of the eighth. Shortstop Mookie Betts, who has played the position since the 2024 season, failed to field the ball cleanly. The ball rolled past Betts and into the gap, allowing Meidroth to reach base on an error. The play was the first and only mistake of the game and ended the perfect‑game chase. By that point the Dodgers had already scored seven runs, and the White Sox had not yet recorded a hit.
Despite the error, Yamamoto kept the White Sox off the board in the eighth inning. He completed the frame with a strikeout and a groundout, preserving the no‑hit status of his outing. The no‑hit bid was broken in the ninth inning when White Sox outfielder Tristan Peters launched a solo home run to right‑field. The homer was the only hit of the game and the sole blemish on Yamamoto’s line. He finished the game with a 7‑1 win, 7 2/3 innings pitched, 12 strikeouts, and a 0.67 earned run average for the season.
The error committed by Betts has drawn attention because the shortstop has struggled defensively since moving to the position. According to MLB defensive metrics, Betts has committed nine errors at shortstop in the 2024 season, the second‑most in the league. The June 13 error was described by the Dodgers’ coaching staff as “routine” and “easy to play,” yet it was enough to deny Yamamoto a historic achievement. The Dodgers’ front office has not issued any statements regarding the error, and Betts has not publicly commented on the play.
Yamamoto’s performance is part of a larger narrative for the Dodgers. The club signed him to a 12‑year, $325 million contract in 2023, the largest deal ever for a pitcher at the time. He has been a key component of the Dodgers’ rotation, helping the team win consecutive World Series titles in 2024 and 2025. In 2025, he was named to his first All‑Star team and was instrumental in the Dodgers’ championship run. The 2026 season has seen him maintain a high level of effectiveness, with a 2.45 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP as of the date of the game.
For the White Sox, the loss was a disappointment in a season that has seen the team struggle to find consistency. The club’s offense has been limited, with a team batting average of .236 and 45 home runs through 70 games. The White Sox’s pitching staff has also been uneven, and the team has not yet secured a playoff spot. The game’s outcome was a reminder of the fine margins that separate winning and losing in baseball.
Yamamoto’s near‑perfect game will be remembered for the quality of his pitching and the way a single defensive miscue can alter a historic moment. The Dodgers will look to build on the win as they continue their pursuit of a third straight World Series title. The White Sox will seek to address defensive lapses and improve their offensive production in the coming weeks.
Yamamoto’s bid for perfection was halted when Chase Meidroth hit a weak ground ball to the left side of the infield with two outs in the bottom of the eighth. Shortstop Mookie Betts, who has played the position since the 2024 season, failed to field the ball cleanly. The ball rolled past Betts and into the gap, allowing Meidroth to reach base on an error. The play was the first and only mistake of the game and ended the perfect‑game chase. By that point the Dodgers had already scored seven runs, and the White Sox had not yet recorded a hit.
Despite the error, Yamamoto kept the White Sox off the board in the eighth inning. He completed the frame with a strikeout and a groundout, preserving the no‑hit status of his outing. The no‑hit bid was broken in the ninth inning when White Sox outfielder Tristan Peters launched a solo home run to right‑field. The homer was the only hit of the game and the sole blemish on Yamamoto’s line. He finished the game with a 7‑1 win, 7 2/3 innings pitched, 12 strikeouts, and a 0.67 earned run average for the season.
The error committed by Betts has drawn attention because the shortstop has struggled defensively since moving to the position. According to MLB defensive metrics, Betts has committed nine errors at shortstop in the 2024 season, the second‑most in the league. The June 13 error was described by the Dodgers’ coaching staff as “routine” and “easy to play,” yet it was enough to deny Yamamoto a historic achievement. The Dodgers’ front office has not issued any statements regarding the error, and Betts has not publicly commented on the play.
Yamamoto’s performance is part of a larger narrative for the Dodgers. The club signed him to a 12‑year, $325 million contract in 2023, the largest deal ever for a pitcher at the time. He has been a key component of the Dodgers’ rotation, helping the team win consecutive World Series titles in 2024 and 2025. In 2025, he was named to his first All‑Star team and was instrumental in the Dodgers’ championship run. The 2026 season has seen him maintain a high level of effectiveness, with a 2.45 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP as of the date of the game.
For the White Sox, the loss was a disappointment in a season that has seen the team struggle to find consistency. The club’s offense has been limited, with a team batting average of .236 and 45 home runs through 70 games. The White Sox’s pitching staff has also been uneven, and the team has not yet secured a playoff spot. The game’s outcome was a reminder of the fine margins that separate winning and losing in baseball.
Yamamoto’s near‑perfect game will be remembered for the quality of his pitching and the way a single defensive miscue can alter a historic moment. The Dodgers will look to build on the win as they continue their pursuit of a third straight World Series title. The White Sox will seek to address defensive lapses and improve their offensive production in the coming weeks.
