Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the Los Angeles Dodgers nearly achieved a flawless inning but lost the opportunity for a rare record due to a ridiculous error by the umpire.

Yamamoto started in a game against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, on the 20th (Korea time), pitching 6⅓ innings, allowing 7 hits (1 home run), recording 5 strikeouts, and 3 earned runs in a loss.

On that day, Yamamoto lost the chance to achieve a flawless inning due to a ridiculous error. In the top of the 3rd inning, Yamamoto faced the leadoff hitter, Bryce Johnson, throwing a 95.2 mph (153.2 km/h) fastball (strike), a 73.9 mph (118.9 km/h) curveball (foul), and a 76.9 mph (123.8 km/h) curveball (strike) to strike him out on three pitches.

Facing the second batter, Martin Maldonado, Yamamoto quickly got to 2 strikes with a 95.1 mph (153.0 km/h) fastball (foul) on the first pitch and an 81.9 mph (131.8 km/h) slider (strike) on the second pitch. He then struck out Maldonado swinging with a 95.6 mph fastball.

Yamamoto met the last batter of the inning, Fernando Tatis Jr. Against San Diego's marquee star, Yamamoto quickly got 2 strikes with a 92.5 mph (148.9 km/h) cutter and an 84.8 mph (136.5 km/h) slider, establishing an overwhelming advantage in the pitch count.

Having recorded 2 strikeouts and 2 strikes in just 8 pitches, Yamamoto could have achieved a flawless inning by striking out Tatis Jr. with just 3 pitches, retiring all three batters on three pitches. Yamamoto's third pitch, a 95.7 mph (154.0 km/h) fastball, entered right down the middle of the strike zone. Everyone thought it was a strike, but umpire Marvin Hudson did not raise his hand, calling it a ball and ending Yamamoto's flawless inning attempt. The broadcasting team, covering the game, exclaimed, “Oh my God!” in lament as Yamamoto's third pitch was called a ball.

Nevertheless, Yamamoto remained unfazed, getting Tatis Jr. to swing and miss at a 93.2 mph (150.0 km/h) cutter to complete the 3rd inning flawlessly.

U.S. media outlet Yahoo Sports noted, “Yamamoto was robbed of a flawless inning,” adding, “Looking at the pitch-tracking data, it was not favorable to umpire Hudson. While it was a bit high to call it completely down the middle, 99 out of 100 times it would be called a strike. Yamamoto drew the short straw on that 1 out of 100,” criticizing Hudson's decision.

Flawless innings have been recorded 118 times in Major League history, making it an even rarer achievement than no-hitters (326 times). Pitchers who have recorded more than one flawless inning include Sandy Koufax, Chris Sale (Atlanta), and Max Scherzer (Toronto). Yamamoto could have been the owner of the 119th flawless inning but had to swallow his disappointment due to the ridiculous error.

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