Shohei Ohtani didn’t have his best stuff and the Los Angeles Dodgers weren’t able to overcome their early deficit in a disappointing 8-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies.
Ohtani doubled on the first pitch of the game, only to be stranded in what was a sign of things to come for the Dodgers.
Meanwhile, on the mound, Ohtani allowed a season-worst five runs. He struggled to put batters away when getting to two strikes and at times was hurt by soft contact. The Rockies took a 2-0 lead in the second inning and added onto it with three runs in the fourth.
That inning also saw Ohtani get hit in the right leg by a line-drive comebacker, but he remained in the game. Ohtani threw 65 pitches and exited with the Dodgers trailing 5-0. He again fell short of the Dodgers’ goal of pitching five innings for a second consecutive start.
The Dodgers went into the night already planning to give Ohtani a game off on Thursday.
Rockies starter Tanner Gordon entered the night with a 7.98 ERA this season and having allowed at least three runs in his last three starts. The Dodgers had at least one baserunner in four of the first five innings but were held scoreless by Gordon up to that point.
Teoscar Hernández’s solo home run in the sixth inning got the Dodgers on the board but was all the rookie right-hander allowed. Meanwhile, the homer was Hernández’s 21st of the season and third in his last eight games.
Miguel Rojas hit a two-run double with two outs in the ninth inning.
With the loss, the Dodgers now need a win on Thursday to muster a series split with the lowly Rockies.
Paul Gervase makes Dodgers debut
Paul Gervase, who the Dodgers acquired as part of a three-team trade with the Tampa Bay Rays and Cincinnati Reds, was recalled before the game. Alexis Díaz was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City in the corresponding move.
It marked the second time Gervase was on the Dodgers’ roster, but he did not pitch while spending one day with the team at the beginning of August.
That changed on Wednesday night with Gervase making his Dodgers debut and allowing one run over two innings.
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!
