On July 4th, the Houston Astros dominated the Los Angeles Dodgers for an awful 18–1 win at Dodger Stadium. The Astros came out hot from the first pitch and never cooled down. They racked up 20 hits and scored in almost every inning. The Dodgers had no answer for the Astros’ offense. The Astros actually played better than their season thus far. They were unstoppable.
The Rivalry Reignites
For Dodgers fans, it was a rough game to watch. The rivalry that started during the 2017 World Series seemed to rear its ugly head. Nothing seemed to go right: bad pitching, poor defense, and not enough hitting. Ben Casparius wasn’t having his best game, and Will Smith was the only Dodger to score. It was one of the worst home losses the Dodgers have suffered in a long time.
Fortunately, there was something exciting to look forward to in game two of the series: Shohei Ohtani pitching, on his 31st birthday.
Ohtani’s Birthday Brilliance
The timing honestly couldn’t have been more perfect. Not only was it his birthday, but it was also a chance to help get the team back on track after a terrible loss. Ohtani hasn’t pitched much this season as the Dodgers have been taking things slow with him, focusing on his health and long-term success.
Ohtani pitched two innings, giving up 1 hit, no runs, and striking out the side. Fans love to see him on the mound. His energy and focus brings out the best in the fans. Getting to watch him pitch, even for just a couple of innings, is something special. Plus, doing it on his birthday made the moment even more meaningful. Even with Ohtani bringing his birthday magic, the Dodgers lost the game. For now, we can chalk it up to progress to get him back to full steam.
Ohtani has made only two other pitching appearances this year, as he builds his arm strength back up. Each time he steps on the mound, he gets a little closer to returning to the player that made him one of the most exciting two-way players the game has ever seen.
While the Dodgers are being extra cautious with his recovery, it’s still awesome to see Ohtani pitch. When he’s on, he throws over 100 mph and mixes in nasty off-speed pitches that have left hitters confused. He also continues to hit at a high level, making him a rare talent in today’s game. It’s not every day you see someone dominate both as a pitcher and a hitter.
Game 3: More of the Same
Game 3, and the final game of the series against the Astros, wasn’t much better, with the Dodgers taking the loss 5-1, getting swept at home. Emmett Sheehan got the start, pitching 5 solid innings after being called back up from AAA, and Hyeseong Kim had a great defensive game at 2nd base.
The Dodgers still have some things to figure out after being swept, but getting Shohei Ohtani back on the mound could be just what they need. Regardless of how many he gets in, seeing him pitch brings energy and hope to the team and the fans.
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