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Dodgers fall in tight game
Ohtani shines but Dodgers drop fourth straight as Angels sweep the Freeway Series
Ohtani's return to Angel Stadium features a solid outing at the mound but cannot stop a Dodgers losing streak in the Freeway Series.
Ohtani Returns to Big A Mound as Dodgers Slump Deepens
ANAHEIM, Calif. AP — Shohei Ohtani returned to Angel Stadium to pitch in Anaheim for the first time since leaving the Angels, working 4 1/3 innings of five-hit ball and totaling seven strikeouts. He also contributed at the plate with a triple and a run scored, but the Dodgers could not hold a lead as the Angels rallied for a 6-5 victory to complete the Freeway Series sweep. Ohtani left with the Dodgers ahead 5-4, yet Los Angeles dropped their fourth straight defeat and slid a game behind the Padres in the NL West standings.
The game featured a familiar mix of drama and rivalry in which Ohtani faced off against Mike Trout, the two MVPs sharing the field and the renewed attention that comes with this cross-town matchup. The Dodgers’ bullpen struggled again with several high-leverage arms on the injured list, and the offense could not sustain production after the fourth inning, despite Logan O’Hoppe’s two-run single in the eighth and Kenley Jansen closing the ninth for Los Angeles.
Key Takeaways
"I just couldn’t finish off hitters in the fifth. They did a good job putting balls in play, and that’s what happens. Next time I’ve got to do a better job."
Ohtani reflecting on his fifth inning during the game
"Obviously, it doesn’t feel good to fall into second place and to lose a lot of these games."
Ohtani on the team’s standing and recent losses
"We’re doing everything in our power, having meetings, doing everything that we can to try to right the ship."
Ohtani on team efforts to regroup
"Doesn’t feel good to lose close games."
Ohtani on the emotional toll of tight losses
The scene at the Big A reinforces Ohtani’s status as a unique draw and a player who can seize a moment even when the bigger story is a skid. The optics of a former Angel returning to a raucous welcome and delivering competitive innings underline how deeply the two-way star anchors the sport’s narrative, not just his team’s win-loss record.
Beyond the heroics, the night spotlights a broader challenge for the Dodgers: depth matters. A shaky bullpen, an offense that fades after the fourth, and a division race that widened in a weekend of tough results point to a need for consistency across rotation, bullpen and lineup. Ohtani’s night is a reminder that even the best talents cannot carry a season alone; team-wide execution is what closes gaps in a grueling schedule.
Highlights
- Ohtani returns to the Big A and puts on a show regardless of the result
- Next time I’ve got to do a better job
- Blue in Anaheim and the rivalry still runs hot
- This chapter tests the Dodgers' depth more than their stars
The season keeps moving, and the next matchup will test whether this loss becomes a turning point or a stubborn setback.
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