Dodgers beat Brewers 2-1 on July 16 behind Yamamoto & Ohtani's heroics. But the win was bittersweet as the team traded fan-favorite Gavin Lux to the Reds.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a day of hellos and goodbyes at Chavez Ravine. On the field, the Dodgers showcased their present dominance with a tense 2-1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers, powered by their Japanese superstars. But off the field, the front office made a clear move for the future, trading fan-favorite infielder Gavin Lux to the Cincinnati Reds in a deal that sent ripples through the fanbase.
'Yoshi was in complete control tonight, and Shohei just keeps coming up big for us,'
The story of the game was Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The rookie ace was simply untouchable, carving up the Brewers' lineup for seven masterful innings. He allowed just one run, struck out nine, and, most impressively, issued zero walks. It was a display of pure command and poise, the kind of performance that solidifies him as a true top-of-the-rotation arm. As manager Dave Roberts put it, 'Yoshi was in complete control,' a sentiment echoed by anyone who watched him work his magic. The Dodgers' pitching has now been elite, allowing two or fewer runs in five of their last six contests.
With Yamamoto dealing, the offense didn't need much, and they got just enough. Mookie Betts started the scoring with a solo shot in the third, but the game remained deadlocked at 1-1 into the sixth inning. That's when Shohei Ohtani stepped up and did what he does best. He laced an RBI double to score the go-ahead run, proving once again to be the team's most reliable clutch hitter. It was the decisive blow in a tight game, with Evan Phillips later locking down his 18th save in a clean ninth inning to secure the victory and improve the Dodgers' record to 59-39.
While fans were celebrating the win, the front office delivered the day's other bombshell: Gavin Lux was traded to the Cincinnati Reds. In return, the Dodgers acquired promising minor league outfielder Mike Sirota and a valuable Competitive Balance Pick A in this year's draft. For Lux, a former top prospect whose time in LA was marked by flashes of brilliance and frustrating injuries, it's a chance for a fresh start and consistent playing time. The move was met with bittersweet farewells on social media from teammates like Mookie Betts and Will Smith, a testament to his popularity in the clubhouse.
The trade signals the Dodgers are always building. The newly acquired Mike Sirota will report to Double-A Tulsa, adding another high-ceiling outfielder to a stacked farm system. And speaking of Tulsa, the future was on full display there tonight as well. Outfield prospect Josue De Paula, just 20 years old, continued his incredible breakout season by smashing a walk-off home run to give the Drillers a 5-4 win. With a .298 average and 14 homers, De Paula is another name for fans to get excited about, proving that even as the big league club wins, the next wave of talent is always on its way.
Wednesday was a perfect snapshot of the modern Dodgers: win now, but never stop planning for tomorrow. The victory keeps them firmly atop the NL West, but the Lux trade is a stark reminder that this organization is relentless in its pursuit of sustained excellence. As the team looks to clinch the series against Milwaukee, they do so with a slightly different roster but the same championship-level expectations, fueled by both current superstars and the promise of future ones.
