Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers let a five-run lead disappear Wednesday night at PNC Park, losing 9-8 to the Pittsburgh Pirates in an MLB game that turned partly on a missed ABS challenge and then fully on Pittsburgh's late power surge.
Ohtani's Seventh Inning Turns On ABS Decision
The Dodgers led by five when Ohtani went out for the seventh inning, just the third time this season he had pitched that deep into a start. Los Angeles had been in control behind Ryan Ward's first career grand slam, and Ohtani appeared set up for a fifth straight win.
The inning changed after Tyler Callihan singled and Jake Mangum reached on a swinging bunt. Ohtani fell behind Brandon Lowe 3-0, with two 98 mph fastballs ruled balls by plate umpire Felix Neon. Catcher Dalton Rushing did not challenge either call, and with one challenge remaining Ohtani let the sequence continue.
Lowe doubled in two runs, ending Ohtani's night on the mound. Ohtani later said, "I could have done a few challenges," a short sentence doing a lot of work after a long inning.
Pirates Rally Past Dodgers In The Eighth
Ohtani finished with season highs in hits allowed (six), runs (four) and earned runs (three). Even after Lowe's double and an error by Max Muncy allowed another run to score, the Dodgers still led by two entering the eighth.
That cushion did not last. Callihan, who had earlier hit the first homer of his career on a 427-foot drive off Ohtani, put the Pirates ahead with a three-run homer in the eighth. Spencer Horwitz followed with a two-run homer, giving Pittsburgh enough room to survive Ohtani's two-run homer in the top of the ninth.
Dodgers Face Catching Change After Loss
The defeat stood out because Los Angeles entered the night 36-3 when leading after seven innings. For a Dodgers team used to turning late leads into routine outs, this was a rare breakdown involving the starter, the bullpen, a challenge decision and a Pirates lineup that kept finding the next swing.
There was also a roster note attached to the ending. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said catcher Will Smith is going on the 10-day injured list with a neck injury, which could mean more work with Rushing for Ohtani in future starts. Ohtani is expected to lead off as usual in Thursday's series finale, leaving the mound review for later and the batter's box for immediately.