Shohei Ohtani's perfect streak without allowing a home run this season has officially come to an end, but the two-way superstar still delivered a performance that reminds us why he's one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball.

On Tuesday night at Houston's Daikin Park, Ohtani suffered his second loss of the season as the Astros edged the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1. The Japanese sensation gave up his first and second home runs of the year, but even in defeat, he showcased the brilliance that has fans and analysts alike in awe.

Ohtani worked a season-high seven innings, marking his longest outing since July 27, 2023, when he tossed a one-hitter. His command was sharp, his stuff electric, and he struck out eight batters while allowing just four hits. The performance was good enough to vault him into the major league ERA lead. With a sparkling 0.97 ERA, Ohtani is now the only qualified starter with a mark below 1.00. Opposing batters are hitting just .160 against him, a figure bested only by his teammate Tyler Glasnow's .146.

But on this night, two swings changed the story. Christian Walker launched a towering blast that cleared the train tracks in left field, and Braden Shewmake scraped a wall-scraper into Houston's famous Crawford Boxes. Those two home runs accounted for all of the Astros' offense and proved to be enough to hand Ohtani his second loss of the season.

For Dodgers fans, there's plenty of reason for optimism. Ohtani is pitching deeper into games, his ERA is historically low, and he's showing the kind of consistency that makes him a Cy Young candidate. The home runs will come and go, but when you're leading the majors in ERA, you're doing something right.

As the season rolls on, expect Ohtani to continue rewriting the record books—both on the mound and at the plate. For now, this loss is just a small bump on what promises to be another unforgettable season.