WEDNESDAY, AUG. 27
Game 3 of 3 vs. Cincinnati Reds
Shohei Ohtani looked sharp on the mound on the way to securing his first victory of the season, as the Dodgers swept the Cincinnati Reds 5-1. Ohtani pitched five innings of one-run baseball on his bobblehead night, while striking out a season-high nine batters on 87 pitches. Ohtani added a hit and run scored in five plate appearances.
FRIDAY, AUG. 29
Game 1 of 3 vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
The Dodgers’ bats didn’t answer the call against the Diamondbacks in Game 1 of their three-game series as the Dodgers lost 3-0. Blake Snell was on the mound for the Dodgers, going 5-1/3 innings and giving up all three runs. Ohtani was one of a few bright spots at the plate, going 1 for 3 with a walk. Despite the loss, the Dodgers remained two games ahead of their division foe Padres for first place.
SATURDAY, AUG. 30
Game 2 of 3 vs. Diamondbacks
For the second straight game, the Dodgers failed to get it going at the plate and lost to the Diamondbacks, 6-1. Ohtani went 0 for 3 at the plate with a walk. The loss cut the Dodg-ers’ division lead to one game.
SUNDAY, AUG. 31
Game 3 of 3 vs. Diamondbacks
The Dodgers squeaked out the win to avoid the series sweep behind a walk-off pinch home run from Will Smith in the bottom of the ninth inning. Dodger ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched seven innings of one-run ball, striking out 10 batters. Tanner Scott came in for Yamamoto in the eighth inning with a 4-1 lead but didn’t fare well. After getting the first two batters out. Scott gave up twosingles, followed by a Corbin Car-roll game-tying three-run home run.
Ohtani went 1 for 4 for the game and scored a run in the first inning.
TUESDAY, SEPT. 2
Game 1 of 3 vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Ohtani hit his 46th home run of the season, a laser shot to right field, but shalking defense and a slew of walks by the pitching staff sank L.A. in a 9-6 loss to the host Pirates.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 3
Game 2 of 3 vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
As The Rafu went to press on Wednesday, Ohtani and the Dodgers were trailing the Pirates, 2-0, in the fourth inning.
Notes: Ohtani’s pitching victory against the Reds was his first since Aug. 9, 2023, while with the Angels.
–Miles Anderson