Blake Treinen Breaks Silence After Dodgers’ Heart-Breaking Collapse Costs Yamamoto’s Gem

1. The Unraveling of a Near Masterpiece

On September 6, 2025, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, a rising ace in the Dodgers’ rotation, stood one out away from history. After firing 8⅔ near-no-hit innings, he was perched to deliver what could’ve been the Dodgers’ 24th no-hitter, a missing chapter in the franchise’s storied legacy. Yet the night slipped away in painfully dramatic fashion. Los Angeles TimesDodger Blue

Then came the bullpen. Blake Treinen, a veteran known for steady relief work, entered to seal the win and cap off Yamamoto’s brilliance. But the dominoes fell fast: a double, a hit batsman, a walk that loaded the bases, another walk that forced in a run—and suddenly, the game was back in the Orioles’ hands.

2. Treinen’s Candid Confession

Following the loss, Treinen’s response was brutally honest and disarmingly human:

“There are really no words. You’re paid to be a professional and at least throw strikes, and I didn’t do that, and cost one of the better outings I’ve ever seen in my career with Yama. He deserved better than that.”

At its core, it’s a statement of regret and one that underscores how even the best-laid plans in baseball can unravel in an instant.

3. Manager’s Perspective: Fault without Finger-Pointing

Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts acknowledged the failure but not with harsh blame. “Blake had a bad night… Very uncharacteristic, but it happened,” said Roberts. Bolavip

He added perspective: “He’s been in some of the toughest spots… I have a hard time believing any spot is too big for him. It just came down to Blake having a bad night.” That thread of faith, even amid failure, sheds light on the trust structure within a team’s bullpen strategy.

4. How the Ninth Unfolded, Pitch by Pitch

Let’s rewind: Yamamoto delivered a career-high 112 pitches, struck out 10, walked just two, and then handed the ball to Treinen. At 8⅔ innings, the Dodgers held a 3-1 lead with all calmness intact.

But what followed was chaos:

1. A double by the first batter.

2. A hit batsman after two strikes.

3. A wild pitch that advanced runners.

4. A walk that loaded the bases.

5. Another walk that cut the lead.
   Then came Tanner Scott, the next reliever, and he couldn’t snuff out the fire. Emmanuel Rivera delivered a two-run, walk-off single, and the Dodgers’ collapse was complete.

5. Dodgers’ Season in Steep Decline

The loss didn’t just cost a game; it extended the Dodgers’ skid to five straight losses, amplifying the feel of a once-promising season now unraveling at the seams. Dodger BlueLos Angeles Times

Some telling stats:

• The Dodgers are now 6-13 in games decided by one run.

• Against sub-.500 teams since July 28, they’ve gone just 6-14.
  These figures paint a clear picture: the Dodgers aren’t just struggling, they’re collapsing.

6. Pitching Context: Treinen’s Season in Review

It’s important to note Treinen’s shaky road leading up to this moment. He’s only appeared in 23 games this season, still recovering from right forearm tightness that cost him more than three months. His return in late July brought ups and downs.

His season stats:

• ERA: 4.26

• WHIP: 1.74

These numbers aren’t elite, but neither are they catastrophic. For a reliever, consistency is everything. The stakes were especially high tonight, compounding the weight of the failure.

7. Historical Echoes: The Weight of History and Today’s Pain

Los Angeles is a franchise steeped in pitching lore, and yet, no-hitters remain rare. Yamamoto’s near-miss would have resonated far beyond just a win; it could’ve reinforced Dodgers lore and breathed life into a team spiraling in September. To watch that potential vanish in the blink of an inning stings, not just statistically but emotionally.

Treinen’s words, cast against that history, feel especially raw: a quiet apology from a veteran grappling with guilt. In baseball, where mental composure heels are as important as fastballs and changeups, his breakdown is both personal and universal.

8. What Comes Next: Recovery or Reassessment?

What does the Dodgers’ brain trust do now? With postseason hopes still alive but fragile, will this be a line in the sand where trust is shaken, especially in the bullpen? Roberts, by defending Treinen, signals he’s not ready to pivot. But player psychology isn’t so easily reset after a public breakdown.

Meanwhile, Yamamoto, who had perhaps the best night of his young MLB career to date, can only watch, frustrated. “We’ve got to get together, put things together, and overcome it,” he said, stoic yet hopeful. Los Angeles Times

Is this a wake-up call that galvanizes the clubhouse or the moment where the Dodgers slip from contenders to also-rans?

9. A Human Moment in a High-Stakes Game

What stands out beyond stats and standings is the emotion. Treinen’s regret doesn’t feel scripted; it’s the raw admission of a professional who knows what he lost, and who feels the weight of that more deeply than any box score can show.

Yamamoto’s near-no-hitter, the bullpen collapse, and Treinen’s words together sketch a human portrait of baseball’s cruel duality: how triumph and tragedy live on the same field.