Shohei Ohtani delivered his longest pitching performance in a Dodgers uniform on Tuesday night, but unfortunately, it wasn't enough to secure a win. The two-way superstar completed seven innings for the first time since 2023, yet the Dodgers fell 2-1 to the Houston Astros at Daikin Park.
Ohtani was sharp and efficient on the mound, striking out eight batters without issuing a single walk. He needed just 89 pitches to get through seven full frames—a feat he hadn't accomplished since pitching a complete-game shutout for the Angels on July 27, 2023. It marked his first time recording an out in the seventh inning as a Dodger, a promising sign for a team that relies heavily on his dual-threat abilities.
Through his first five starts this season, Ohtani had kept opponents in the ballpark, allowing zero home runs. That streak came to an end in the second inning when Christian Walker—a familiar tormentor of the Dodgers—crushed a solo shot. In fact, Walker now has 30 career home runs in just 95 games against Los Angeles. The Astros struck again shortly after when Braden Shewmake hooked a ball just over the left-field wall into the Crawford Boxes, giving Houston a 2-0 lead.
Those two runs were all the Astros managed off Ohtani, whose ERA actually rose—to a microscopic 0.97. He still leads the National League in that category, as he has after each of his six starts this season. With 37 innings now under his belt, Ohtani will remain atop the leaderboard through Thursday, when the Dodgers play their 37th game before an off day.
Offensively, Los Angeles continued to struggle. After snapping a six-game home run drought with an eight-run outburst on Monday, the bats went quiet again. The Dodgers have now been held to two or fewer runs in five of their last seven games—a worrying trend for a team with championship aspirations.
They couldn't solve former San Dimas High School pitcher Peter Lambert, who tossed seven scoreless innings despite walking four batters and allowing three hits. Lambert had been torched by the Dodgers in seven previous outings while with the Colorado Rockies, surrendering 27 runs in 24 innings. On Tuesday, however, he kept every L.A. runner from crossing the plate.
The Dodgers finally broke through in the eighth inning against the Astros bullpen. Pinch-hitter Alex Call led off with a double and later scored on a two-out single by Kyle Tucker. But that was all the offense they could muster, as Houston closed out the game and wasted Ohtani's brilliant effort.
For Dodgers fans and fantasy owners alike, Ohtani's seven-inning gem is a reminder of just how special this season could be. If the bats can find their rhythm, there's no telling how far this team—and their superstar pitcher—can go.