The Los Angeles Dodgers’ bullpen faltered once again in a 5-4 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks as they began their final road trip of the season.
Shohei Ohtani made the 100th pitching start of his career, and it marked the first time he pitched six innings for the Dodgers. The Dodgers had been limiting Ohtani to five innings, but planned to get him through six as they look ahead to the postseason.
Ohtani finished his outing throwing six scoreless innings with eight strikeouts on 91 pitches. He allowed five hits but walked no one.
It was Ohtani’s first time pitching in the sixth inning since Aug. 9, 2023.
Hernández gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead in the second inning with a solo home run, his first of a multi-RBI night.
The Dodgers didn’t have much going through the next few innings, but after walks from Ohtani and Freddie Freeman in the sixth, they had a rally started.
Hernández drove in two more runs as he tripled both of them home to put the Dodgers up 3-0. He finished his night with three RBI.
Ben Rortvedt blasted his first home run with the Dodgers to put them up 4-0, and that insurance run proved to be important.
Once Ohtani was out of the game, the bullpen meltdown began, again.
Jack Dreyer entered and allowed a single and double that pulled the Diamondbacks within three runs. Edgardo Henriquez was then called upon, and he allowed a two-run homer that made it a 4-3 game.
Alex Vesia fell into some trouble in the eighth inning with a pair of walks, but Rortvedt helped him get out of the inning with a heads-up play to throw out the runner at second on a double steal. Vesia then got a strikeout to end the inning and keep the lead at one.
Tanner Scott was given the ninth looking to save the game after four consecutive scoreless outings from the left-hander.
He hit the first batter, then walked the second, and after a sacrifice bunt, a fly ball tied the game, 4-4. That was Scott’s MLB-leading 10th blown save of the season after blowing just two last year.
Scott then allowed a walk-off RBI single to give the Diamondbacks the win.
Dodgers’ NL West lead dropping
The San Diego Padres won earlier in the day, so the Dodgers’ lead in the National League West is now just 1.5 games. Their magic number to clinch the division remains at three.
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
