Shohei Ohtani pitched six scoreless innings with 8 strikeouts, but the bullpen faltered again and the team lost the game.

In the Dodgers' away series against the Diamondbacks, Shohei Ohtani started on the mound on the 24th, delivering 6 scoreless innings with 8 strikeouts, issuing no walks, allowing 5 hits on 91 pitches, lowering his ERA to 2.87. Unfortunately, the Dodgers bullpen collapsed, costing Ohtani the win, as the Diamondbacks secured their 80th victory with a walk-off hit in a 5-4 finish. This marked left-hander Tanner Scott’s 10th blown save and 4th loss of the season.

Ohtani’s first strikeout in the game was against the Diamondbacks’ star Corbin Carroll, who was caught off guard by a curveball on a 2-2 count. In the fourth inning, a similar scenario unfolded when Carroll struck out again, this time on a 101.2 mph (162.8 km/h) fastball from Ohtani. Carroll managed a hit in the sixth inning, but Ohtani remained unharmed, continuing to throw blazing fastballs before leaving the game.

When Ohtani exited, the Dodgers held a 4-0 lead, marking his first time pitching a full six innings this season. Relievers Jack Dreyer and Edgardo Henriquez squandered three runs in a single inning. In the bottom of the ninth, Tanner Scott came in, and the Diamondbacks tied the game without a hit (hit by pitch, walk, sacrifice). Geraldo Perdomo delivered the game-winning hit with two outs to end the match.

Ohtani went 0-for-3 at the plate, drawing a walk in the sixth inning and was driven home by a teammate’s hit.

In his previous start against the Phillies, Ohtani pitched five scoreless innings but again lost due to bullpen failure as the Phillies staged a comeback. This season, Ohtani’s record on the mound stands at 1 win and 1 loss. Although he hasn’t pitched enough innings to qualify for leaderboard rankings, his 2.87 ERA is the second-best of his career. He was an AL Cy Young Award finalist in 2022 when he posted a 2.33 ERA.