PHOENIX (Interstat) — In a stunning reversal of pregame expectations, the Los Angeles Dodgers delivered a commanding 8-0 shutout victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday afternoon at Chase Field, decisively snapping a tightly contested series between the National League West rivals.

The game, played before a crowd of 34,952 in just 2 hours and 34 minutes, was dominated from the mound by Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The winning pitcher silenced the Diamondbacks’ bats over six strong innings, allowing just four hits while striking out seven and walking one. His performance starkly contrasted the projections from Interstat, which had forecast a 7-5 Arizona victory and gave the Dodgers only a 53.6 percent probability to win.

The Dodgers’ offense, held in check for much of the previous two games, erupted for four runs in both the second and fourth innings to provide all the support Yamamoto and the bullpen would need. The loss was charged to Arizona opener Jalen Beeks, who fell to 5-3 on the season after surrendering the first of Los Angeles’s eight runs.

The game began as a pitcher’s duel, with both teams going down in order in the first inning. The momentum shifted violently in the top of the second. Freddie Freeman ignited the rally by launching a solo home run, his 22nd of the season, on a line drive to right-center field. The very next batter, Andy Pages, followed suit by crushing a fly ball over the left-field fence for his 27th homer, staking the Dodgers to a quick 2-0 lead.

The inning continued as Michael Conforto worked a walk and, after a fly out, Enrique Hernández singled. A fielder’s choice grounder by Dalton Rushing resulted in a missed catch error by Arizona shortstop Geraldo Perdomo, loading the bases. After a strikeout, Mookie Betts came through with a sharp two-run single to left field, scoring Conforto and Hernández to cap the four-run frame.

Yamamoto worked around occasional traffic, stranding two runners in the third inning to preserve the early lead. The Dodgers then broke the game open for good in the fourth. Hernández led off with a double and advanced to third on a groundout. Shohei Ohtani then stepped up and blasted his major league-leading 54th home run, a two-run shot to right-center field that extended the lead to 6-0.

The damage was not done. After a groundout, Teoscar Hernández singled, bringing Freeman back to the plate. The first baseman connected for his second homer of the afternoon, a two-run drive to right-center for his 23rd of the year, pushing the advantage to 8-0.

From there, the Dodgers’ bullpen took over, combining to pitch three perfect innings before a minor threat in the eighth. Anthony Banda struck out two in a flawless seventh. Will Klein worked the eighth, allowing a two-out double to Ketel Marte but striking out two to strand the runner. Tanner Scott closed out the game in the ninth, retiring the side in order with a strikeout.

Beyond Yamamoto’s excellence, the Dodgers received standout relief work. Banda, Klein, and Scott combined for three innings of one-hit, shutout baseball, striking out five. For the Diamondbacks, relievers Taylor Rashi and Austin Pope provided solid middle-inning work. Rashi was particularly effective, striking out six over three innings of one-hit ball, but the game was already out of reach.

The victory improved the Dodgers’ record to 90-69 as they continue their push toward the postseason. The loss dropped the Diamondbacks to 80-79, officially eliminating them from playoff contention. The result also meant the total score of 8 went over the pregame over/under line of 8.5, while the Dodgers easily covered the -1.5 spread.

The game served as a rubber match after the teams split the first two contests of the series, with Arizona winning 5-4 on Tuesday and Los Angeles taking an 11-inning, 5-4 decision on Wednesday.

Both teams now head west for their final series of the regular season. The Dodgers are scheduled to open a three-game set against the Seattle Mariners on Friday. The Diamondbacks will travel to face the San Diego Padres, also beginning a three-game series on Friday.