Ohtani Struggles with Injury in Dodgers' Series Sweep Over Rays

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani faced challenges on the mound as he recorded multiple earned runs in consecutive starts for the first time this season. Battling through discomfort in his left knee and a bloody blister on his right middle finger, Ohtani surrendered more than one run in an inning for the second time in just a week. He had previously showcased a strong performance with four scoreless innings against Tampa Bay on Wednesday.

The discomfort in his knee had sidelined him for a game in Chicago last week, and his streak of four wins was interrupted with a no-decision in Pittsburgh. “Just part of the game,” Ohtani remarked through a translator. “There’s not a lot of situations where you feel 100%, so I just took it as that. It’s big that we were able to win a game like this.”

In the fifth inning, Ohtani (7-2) allowed four runs and five hits while throwing 26 pitches. However, he bounced back with a perfect sixth inning, securing the win as the Dodgers came from behind to clinch a 5-4 victory, marking their second sweep of the Rays in franchise history. “It’s just really that inning, that fifth inning, that I wasn’t really too pleased,” he acknowledged. “But aside from that the stuff was good and I felt pretty good overall.”

Over his last two outings, Ohtani has given up eight runs (seven earned), a stark contrast to the seven runs (five earned) he allowed in his first ten starts. His earned run average now stands at 1.47, still ranking second among pitchers with at least 50 innings pitched. “Obviously, we expect close to perfection out of Sho every time he goes out there. So does he,” said Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing. “But there’s no reason to worry at all.”

Though not in the starting lineup, Ohtani took to the plate for designated hitter Miguel Rojas in the sixth inning after Freddie Freeman’s two-run homer put the Dodgers back in the lead, sparing Ohtani from a potential loss. He grounded out on the first pitch and subsequently lost the designated hitter role for the remainder of the game. “I talked to (Ohtani), and he said he felt really comfortable about taking the at-bat,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts explained. “If we were ahead, would I have fired that bullet? Probably less likely, but again, there isn’t much cost if he feels like he can take the at-bat, whether you’re up one or down one, or whatever.”

Ohtani entered the game on a hot streak, having hit five home runs in his last nine appearances and boasting a .367 batting average during that stretch.