Shohei Ohtani pitched 4.1 innings in his first career start against the Los Angeles Angels, but the Los Angeles Dodgers were swept in the Freeway Series with a 6-5 loss that gives them a four-game losing streak and moves them back a full game behind the San Diego Padres in the National League West.
The Dodgers took a 5-4 lead into the eighth inning, but Justin Wrobleski walked the first two hitters he faced before Edgardo Henriquez was called upon. After recording an out, Jo Adell singled to load the bases.
Luis Rengifo grounded out to give the Dodgers two outs, but then Logan O’Hoppe singled home two runs to put the Angels up, resulting in another blown save for the Dodgers.
Wrobleski was credited with the loss while Henriquez was given the blown save. Kenley Jansen then shut the door on the Dodgers to close it out and record the win for the Angels.
Prior to taking the mound, Ohtani helped jumpstart the Dodgers with a leadoff triple. Mookie Betts’ RBI single extended his hitting streak to eight games and provided the Dodgers with an early lead.
Will Smith added onto it with a two-run home run as Kyle Hendricks teetered on not making it through one inning.
The Angels cut into their deficit behind Taylor Ward’s solo home run in the second inning, and Yoan Moncada’s double was cashed in on a sacrifice fly. Ohtani then kept them off the board in the third and fourth innings, but couldn’t get through the fifth.
After back-to-back singles, Zach Neto’s two-run double cut the Dodgers’ lead to 5-4 and chased Ohtani from the game. Ohtani threw a season-high 80 pitches in his ninth start and allowed four runs, the most in an outing this year.
The Dodgers still maintained their lead thanks to another RBI single from Betts and Smith’s walk with the bases loaded in the fourth inning.
Bryce Teodosio robbed Andy Pages of a two-run homer in the top of the seventh inning and then led off the bottom half with a hustle double. However, he was thrown out trying to steal third base and Justin Wrobleski completed a second scoreless inning.
Dodgers and Angels Freeway Series rarity
Prior to the outcome of Wednesday’s game, the Dodgers had already lost the season series to the Angels for the first time since 2019. Within that, the Dodgers’ five-game losing streak to the Halos — which dated back to 2024 — was the longest in their Freeway Series matchups since 2010.
The Dodgers’ loss in the finale gave the Angels a 6-0 record in their head-to-head meetings this year. The only time the Angels previously swept the season series was in 2019 by going 4-0. This is the first time the Angels have gone undefeated in a season series when playing the Dodgers six times.
The Dodgers won all six Freeway Series games in 2020, their only time accomplishing the feat.
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