Shohei Ohtani made his longest pitching start of the season but the Los Angeles Dodgers had their five-game winning streak snapped in a 9-5 loss to the Kansas City Royals.
Ohtani got through two scoreless innings on 27 pitches, benefitting from a double play. Ohtani also set a new career high for his hardest pitch thrown with a 101.7 mph four-seam fastball.
Ohtani exited with the game scoreless, but Ben Casparius immediately ran into trouble. The relief appearance was Casparius’ third time in a row following Ohtani.
After Bobby Witt Jr. blooped a double into shallow right field that put two on, Maikel Garcia’s extra-base hit gave the Royals a 2-0 lead in the third inning.
Defensive issues surfaced for the Dodgers again in fifth as Andy Pages’ fielding error resulted in Kyle Isbel reaching scoring position on what otherwise was just a single. Jonathan India immediately took advantage as he followed with an RBI single.
Vinnie Pasquantino later broke the game open with a three-run home run before Casparius could get through the fifth. He wound pitching four innings but the Dodgers continued to trail.
The Royals scored three more runs off Luis García, who retired just one of five batters faced in the seventh inning. The appearance was García’s second, which were back-to-back, since returning from the 15-day injured list.
Miguel Rojas pitched the eighth inning.
Dodgers shut down by Seth Lugo
The Dodgers had their share of opportunities against Seth Lugo despite the right-hander finishing with eight strikeouts over 5.2 innings. Lugo set a career high with five walks.
Teoscar Hernández struck out with runners on first and second in first inning, and grounded out to end the third inning with men at the corners.
Lugo gave way to Daniel Lynch IV with two on and two outs in the sixth inning. The lefty reliever struck out Dalton Rushing to help the Royals escape the small jam.
Freddie Freeman was one of the few Dodgers who had success against Lugo, going 2-for-2 with a walk. Freeman continued his perfect day by hitting a solo home run off Lynch in the seventh inning. The homer was Freeman’s 10th of the season but first since Mother’s Day (May 11).
The 41-game stretch without a home run was Freeman’s longest drought of his career.
The Dodgers loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth inning and pushed across four runs before the Royals could finish out their win.
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