Shohei Ohtani spins another pitching gem, but takes loss as Dodgers go quiet vs Astros
HOUSTON –– The first four innings were frustrating.The next five were futile.Just when it looked like the Dodgers were emerging from their recent offensive slump, having won back-to-back games with 12 total runs the previous two days, the team came right back down to earth on Tuesday in a 2-1 loss to the Houston Astros.The night’s biggest story, of course, was Shohei Ohtani.For the third time in his last four pitching starts this year, the two-way star was given a one-way task, removed from the lineup as designated hitter to focus only on his duties atop the mound.He responded by producing a seven-inning, two-run, eight-strikeout start –– making only two real mistakes on home runs given up to Christian Walker in the second and Branden Shewmake in the third.The problem: The Dodgers (22-14) watched their Ohtani-less lineup go back in the tank.The team squandered several golden chances early on, leaving six men on base through the first four frames, including a wasted bases-loaded opportunity in the fourth.And from there, things got even worse.
Astros right-hander Peter Lambert retired nine of his final 10 batters to complete a scoreless seven-inning start; the first the Astros (15-22) have gotten all season from their league-worst pitching staff. The Houston bullpen gave up one run in the eighth on a Kyle Tucker RBI single, but did enough otherwise to keep the lead intact.What it meansFor as good as Ohtani has been as a pitcher –– finishing Tuesday with an MLB-best 0.97 ERA –– his inability to impact the offense remains a problem.Ohtani was out of the lineup, after all, in part because of his current 0-for-17 skid as a hitter.Following a fifth-straight hitless performance Monday, manager Dave Roberts decided to change course and only have Ohtani pitch Tuesday.The four-time MVP should be back in the lineup Wednesday, when the Dodgers will be trying to avoid a third-consecutive series loss.
They could use more from his bat.Because right now, even h...