Shohei Ohtanis homer not enough for Dodgers to overcome slow start in loss to Orioles
They almost did it again.The Dodgers nearly produced their second miracle in as many nights, their 3-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday night ending with the tying run on third base.In their series-opening walk-off win the previous night, the Dodgers scored three runs in the ninth inning to reverse a two-run deficit.The two-run surge on Saturday night was started by Shohei Ohtani, who returned to the lineup after a one-day absence for the birth of his second child.Ohtani led off the ninth inning by running into a down-the-middle fastball by Andrew Kittredge and sending it over the center field wall to reduce his team’s deficit to 3-1.Freddie Freeman drew a one-out walk, leading the Orioles to replace Kittredge with Yannier Cano. But Mookie Betts reached base on an infield single and Freeman scored on right fielder Leony Tavares’ error on a line drive by Tommy Edman.Betts advanced to third base on the play, only for Kyle Tucker to end the game with a strikeout.The Dodgers spent most of the game frustrated by Orioles left-hander Trevor Rogers, who held them to one hit over the first seven innings of the game.The runner-up for the National League rookie of the year award in 2021 with the Miami Marlins, Rogers has endured several injuries over his up-and-down seven-year career.Rogers was spectacular last season, posting a 9-3 record and 1.81 earned-run average in 18 starts.
His ERA established a new single-season Orioles record for pitchers with 100 or more innings.The performance led to Rogers being named the Orioles’ opening-day starter this year, but the former first-round draft pick entered his start against the Dodgers with a 5.86 ERA.He’d also lost seven of his previous eight decisions.But the Dodgers couldn’t figure him out.The Dodgers got their first and only hit against Rogers with two outs in the fifth inning, a bloop single to center field by Tommy Edman.Only two others reached base against Rogers, and they both did so on walks.A day aft...