Dodgers fall to Angels after Ohtani homer binge

Ohtani continues to hit for power but the Dodgers suffer a setback that tightens the NL West race.

Ohtani homers in third straight game as Dodgers stumble in West

Shohei Ohtani belted his 42nd homer of the season to stretch a three game run, but the Dodgers lost 7-4 to the Angels in Anaheim. Los Angeles trailed 7-0 before Ohtani's eighth inning blast sparked a late rally that brought the crowd to its feet. Mookie Betts and Will Smith produced run singles and Max Muncy hit his 17th homer, but the comeback fell short as LA could not plate enough runs to complete the comeback. The night also featured Yoshinobu Yamamoto giving up six runs on six hits and five walks over six innings, a rough outing that left the bullpen exposed and the rotation under renewed scrutiny. The loss trims LA's lead in the NL West to one game over San Diego, intensifying a looming stretch where the Padres have looked sharper at the deadline.

Ohtani's homer binge shows why he is viewed as the season's top offensive force, yet it cannot mask a broader lineup inconsistency that has plagued the Dodgers since the All-Star break. The team has enough talent to win, but gaps in the bullpen and in clutch hitting make every loss feel larger. The upcoming series with the Padres adds pressure, turning every game into a referendum on how LA handles a tight division race and a stubborn midseason lull. If the rotation and bullpen can align, the Dodgers still project as a World Series contender; if not, their window may narrow quickly.

Highlights

The next few games will show if LA can regain its edge in the division