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The Los Angeles Dodgers couldn't maintain their winning streak against the New York Yankees, falling 7-3 on Sunday night in a game riddled with mistakes and missed opportunities. This loss came after the Dodgers dominated the first two games of the series at Dodger Stadium, including a staggering 18-2 victory on Saturday.

Despite their recent dominance over the Yankees, Dodgers' manager Dave Roberts quickly dismissed the idea that his team held any long-term advantage. “I think we’ve had their number the last two nights,” Roberts said. “But today’s a different day.” Those words proved accurate as the Dodgers struggled through a series finale that shattered their momentum.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who had been a steadfast performer in the Dodgers' injury-plagued rotation, had an off day. Coming into the game with a stellar 1.97 ERA, Yamamoto saw his effectiveness dissolve. He couldn’t consistently locate his pitches, and the Yankees pounced on his struggles. Walking three and giving up seven hits, Yamamoto exited in the fourth inning with his pitch count soaring to 96. “He wasn’t great today, wasn’t sharp with any of his pitches,” Roberts noted post-game. “Really uncharacteristic.”

Early errors compounded the Dodgers' woes. Outfielder Andy Pages missed the mark with a throw to home plate, leading to an early Yankees run. Pages also blundered an aggressive base-stealing attempt in the second inning, which proved costly as the Dodgers missed a chance to score more runs when Tommy Edman followed with a solo home run. From defensive lapses to Yamamoto’s wild pitch, it was a tough outing for the Dodgers.

The offense, missing star Mookie Betts for the third consecutive game due to a toe fracture, couldn’t recover as they struggled against Yankees’ left-hander Ryan Yarbrough. Formerly part of the Dodgers, Yarbrough turned the tables on his old team, striking out five across six effective innings and exploiting the Dodgers’ disarray to keep them scoreless during his time on the mound.

“It's funky,” admitted Dodgers’ catcher Will Smith, referring to Yarbrough’s unconventional pitching style. The Dodgers’ lineup, usually a source of explosive offense, went a dismal 0 for 16 at the top of the order. While there was a brief resurgence with home runs from Pages and Max Muncy off reliever Jonathan Loáisiga, it was too late to alter the outcome.

The loss highlighted the inconsistencies that have troubled the Dodgers throughout the season. Their record now reflects the struggle, standing at an even 13-13 over the last 26 games. Despite taking two out of three from a formidable opponent, the Dodgers left the weekend with lingering questions about their performance and consistency moving forward.