ANAHEIM, Calif. – The Los Angeles Dodgers, who just six weeks ago led the National League West with a nine-game lead, now find themselves in a complicated situation after being swept by the Los Angeles Angels. What seemed to be a sure conquest of their 12th divisional title in 13 years is now threatened.After the defeat against the Angels, the Dodgers have conceded first place to the San Diego Padres, their next rival in a highly anticipated series this weekend. The difference between both teams is one game.
Shohei Ohtani, the Dodgers’ two-way star, led Wednesday’s game with a triple, driving in a three-run first inning. Subsequently, he took the mound with the intention of completing five innings for the first time since his second ulnar collateral ligament repair. Although the Dodgers maintained a 5-2 lead at the start of the fifth inning, the Angels reacted with three consecutive hits and forced Ohtani to leave the game after 80 pitches.The Dodgers’ bullpen, affected by multiple injuries to their key relievers, allowed the comeback for the second consecutive night. Logan O’Hoppe hit a single with the bases loaded that drove in two runs in the eighth inning. The Dodgers’ offense, with a low batting average since Independence Day, could not respond.The Dodgers have lost all six games against the Angels this season and are currently on a four-game losing streak. They have lost first place in the National League West Division for the first time since April 27.Obviously, it’s not good to fall to second place and lose many of these games. We are doing our best, having close meetings, doing everything we can to try to get things back on track. We just have to do a better job.
Shohei Ohtani
The series against the Padres at Dodger Stadium will mark the latest date in the season that the Padres have held first place in the National League West since September 25, 2010. The Padres arrive with a five-game winning streak, fueled by the recovery of their starting rotation and the acquisitions made by their general manager.The last matchup between the Dodgers and Padres was marked by on-field incidents, including several hit batters and a near fight between the managers. Betts, however, downplayed the urgency of the series, which will continue with three more games in San Diego from August 22 to 24.The Wednesday game was also notable for being the first time Ohtani pitched as a visitor at Angel Stadium and faced Mike Trout since the 2023 World Baseball Classic, where he struck out Trout to secure the championship for Japan. Ohtani managed to strike out Trout twice on Wednesday. Ohtani later called Angel Stadium “one of my favorite stadiums to play in.”Ohtani’s performance was marred by controversy, two days after a lawsuit was filed against him and his agent by a Hawaii real estate investor, alleging they were fired from a $240 million luxury housing development project that Ohtani had endorsed.I think we’re constantly giving ourselves a chance to win. Right now, that’s what we can ask for. Obviously, we’d love to win all these games, but it just wasn’t in the cards, so we have to turn the page and get ready for San Diego.
Mookie Betts
I am focused on what the team is doing and on doing everything possible to secure a victory on the field.
Shohei Ohtani
