Dodgers lose to Marlins as Shohei Ohtani only…
It sure regarded just like the Dodgers may’ve used Shohei Ohtani’s bat in the lineup Tuesday night time.
In a 2-1 loss to the Miami Marlins, Ohtani pitched just advantageous in a six-inning, two-run, nine-strikeout start, giving him a 0.60 ERA through 5 begins on the mound this 12 months.
But for the second time this season, the Dodgers elected to depart the two-way star out of the batting order in a recreation he pitched as half of their plan to handle his workload this season.
Shohei Ohtani reacts after putting out Miami Marlins’ Agustin Ramirez. AP
Long-term, they hope, it’ll keep Ohtani contemporary.
But on Tuesday, it led to a dreadful night time at the plate from the remainder of the crew.
After coming up empty in a bases-loaded, one-out alternative created by shaky Marlins protection in the first, the Dodgers (20-10) did little at the plate the remainder of the night time.
Dalton Rushing argues with home plate umpire Clint Vondrak after putting out. AP
Miami starter Janson Junk saved them off-balance in a scoreless six-inning start, utilizing a five-pitch to induce weak contact and gather fast outs. The Marlins bullpen prevented the sort of collapse that doomed them in Monday’s walk-off end, giving up one run in the eighth but stranded runners on the corners to retire the facet.
That could be as close as the Dodgers got here to a comeback. In the ninth, they received an infield single from Andy Pages, but nothing else.
Backup catcher Dalton Rushing changed Ohtani in as the crew’s designated hitter –– and, so as not to disrupt the remainder of the batting order, leadoff man –– but went 0-for-4 and struck out in the fifth on a pitch-clock violation (after home plate umpire Clint Vondrak evidently didn’t see him making an attempt to call for time).
Agustin Ramirez scores on a sacrifice fly as Will Smith watches. AP
Few others had been any better, with the Dodgers managing just seven hits on the night time while leaving eight stranded on base.
What it means
Tuesday was the sort of recreation that may give the Dodgers pause before protecting Ohtani out of the lineup on his start days again.
After slumping last week, he’s been one of the crew’s few stars who appeared to be snapping out of an early-season funk in current days, coming off back-to-back three-hit video games and having reached safely in 10 of his past 14 plate appearances.
The purpose for limiting Ohtani to just pitching, of course, has more to do with his own workload considerations.
Still, every time the Dodgers battle to hit without him, the more obvious his absence on nights like Tuesday will really feel.
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Alex Freeland jumps out of the way in which as Miami Marlins’ Agustin Ramirez steals second base. AP
Who’s sizzling
As a pitcher, Ohtani wasn’t his sharpest against the Marlins, battling considerably shaky command in a five-hit, three-walk outing that drove up his pitch depend to a season-high 104.
However, he managed to restrict injury properly and faucet into his 100 mph fastball velocity when he needed it.
His first run got here as a end result of his own defensive mistake, when he threw away a pickoff throw to second base after hitting Agustín Ramírez with a pitch in the second inning. The Marlins scored again in the fifth on an RBI single from Kyle Stowers –– marking only the second earned run against Ohtani in 30 innings this 12 months.
Los Angeles Dodgers proper fielder Kyle Tucker reacts to putting out against the Miami Marlins. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
After that, though, he labored out of a bases-loaded jam to keep the rating close.
The Dodgers just couldn’t do enough at the plate to get him off the hook for the loss.
Who’s not
Pages has formally come back to earth after his blistering start to the 12 months.
Though he prevented an 0-fer by legging out his ninth-inning single (which was aided by a unhealthy throw), the third-year slugger is now just 7-for-40 in his last 11 video games –– during which time his batting average has fallen from an MLB-best .412 to .324.
It’s still been an wonderful first month total. It’s just not ending on the best of notes.
Up next
The Dodgers and Marlins will conclude this collection on Wednesday afternoon, when Tyler Glasnow (3-0, 2.45) will sq. off against former Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara (3-2, 3.05 ERA) in a marquee pitching matchup. Ohtani is predicted to return to the Dodgers’ lineup as designated hitter for the rubber match.
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