While yesterday was a nice vacation of sorts as the Dodgers got blown the fuck out by the Astros, today’s game was tight all the way through, which was frustrating as some sloppy defense and baserunning cost them basically the deficit in the game in a 6-4 loss.
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As with every game he pitches, the main thing is Shohei Ohtani‘s rehab continues to progress and he looks very sharp doing it. He gave up a jam single to start the game, which was then promptly erased by a double play, and he ended up facing the minimum in the 1st. Ohtani then followed that up by striking out the side in the 2nd, at which point he exited at 31 pitches.
What did Shohei Ohtani get for his birthday?
Three NASTY strikeouts ?? pic.twitter.com/4lAlJWs4Xu
— MLB (@MLB) July 5, 2025
He was also pitching with a lead after Mookie Betts smashed his 11th homer in the 1st.
There goes Mookie! pic.twitter.com/c2IaLcAg1s
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 5, 2025
They jumped ahead 2-0 in the 2nd when Andy Pages singled, stole second, and got to third on a errant throw, then Miguel Rojas blooped him in with a single.
Unfortunately that didn’t last long, as Justin Wrobleski entered as the bulk guy in the 3rd and immediately got shelled. Three singles, two doubles, and a costly Miggy error led to a four-run inning that put the Astros ahead 4-2.
Fair ball! Zack Short’s first hit as an Astro ties this game up 2-2!
?: FOX pic.twitter.com/Htyde7QjJq
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 6, 2025
Oh my! Miguel Rojas throws it away and the Astros take the lead!
?: FOX pic.twitter.com/Wo2JITsT1s
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 6, 2025
Christian Walker really likes hitting at Dodger Stadium. It’s 4-2 Astros!
?: FOX pic.twitter.com/xwTbelZ22P
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 6, 2025
The struggle continued in the 4th as Wrobo gave up a solo shot to Yainer Diaz to make it 5-2.
Yainer Diaz sends that ball out of here and it’s 5-2 @astros!
?: FOX pic.twitter.com/Bg5kkhdgik
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 6, 2025
The Dodgers did make it close again, as after a scoreless 3rd, a Pages single and Miguel Rojas’ fourth homer of the year (!!!) cut the deficit to 5-4.
Miggy Ro! pic.twitter.com/6yA1O7ZGtV
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 6, 2025
Surprisingly, Wrobo also turned it around from there, getting clean frames in the 5th, 6th, and then two outs in the 7th before giving up a single. That led to Lou Trivino entering to get the final out of that inning.
After two quiet innings for the bats in the 5th and 6th, the Dodgers looked like they’d rally in the 7th as Mookie Betts doubled past a dive … but then got greedy for whatever reason and got thrown out at third to kill the rally.
Mookie Betts tried to take advantage of the Astros mishap in the outfield but was thrown out at third base!
?: FOX pic.twitter.com/xEXQLzFifd
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 6, 2025
That was a hell of a contrast with the play that started the 8th, as an Enrique Hernandez misplay resulted in a triple that was later cashed in with a sac fly to make it 6-4.
Jose Altuve has a leadoff triple at Dodger Stadium! ?
?: FOX pic.twitter.com/vrUwKJ75O0
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 6, 2025
Jack Little then closed the books on the Astros with a scoreless 9th, which was at least a nice change from his debut.
Unfortunately, the Dodgers just could not get anything going at the plate. A one-out walk and hit-by-pitch was stranded in the 8th
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The Dodgers will try to avoid a sweep tomorrow a few hours earlier at 10:10 AM HT/1:10 PM PT/4:10 PM ET with Emmet Sheehan returning to start against Colton Gordon.
