Shohei Ohtani's 25th HR wasn't enough as the Dodgers' bullpen faltered in a 6-4 loss to the Nationals on June 21. Recap Ohtani's blast and the 8th-inning collapse.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a night of highs and lows at Dodger Stadium, a familiar story for a team with this much firepower. Shohei Ohtani launched his 25th home run of the season, a towering two-run shot, but the celebration was short-lived as the bullpen couldn't hold the line, leading to a frustrating 6-4 loss to the Washington Nationals on Saturday.
We battled all night, but just came up a little short. We'll regroup and get after it tomorrow.
For a while, it looked like the Dodgers' script would play out perfectly. Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivered a quality start, battling through six innings while racking up eight strikeouts and allowing three runs. The offense did its part to claw back, with Teoscar Hernández driving in a run with a double and Freddie Freeman looking unstoppable with a 3-for-4 night. The highlight came in the 5th when Shohei Ohtani crushed a two-run homer to tie the game at 4-4. But the momentum shifted decisively in the 8th inning when reliable reliever Evan Phillips surrendered a go-ahead, two-run single to CJ Abrams, a blow from which the Dodgers couldn't recover.
The late-inning collapse puts a spotlight back on a Dodgers bullpen that has been tested all season. While the front office remained quiet on the transaction front Saturday, the absence of key arms like Brusdar Graterol and Emmet Sheehan is palpable on nights like these. The team's depth is being challenged, and while Evan Phillips has been largely dependable, the 8th inning served as a stark reminder of how thin the margin for error is. With no immediate roster moves announced, Dave Roberts will have to continue mixing and matching to find a winning formula for the late innings.
Despite the loss, it wasn't all bad news for the Dodger faithful. The offense continues to lead the National League with a .264 team batting average, and Freeman's performance shows the top of the order remains lethal. Down on the farm, the future looks incredibly bright. Top pitching prospect River Ryan was electric for Triple-A Oklahoma City, striking out 10 batters over six scoreless innings. Meanwhile, outfielder Josue De Paula added a home run for Double-A Tulsa, reminding everyone of the next wave of talent developing in the system.
As Freddie Freeman said, the team will regroup for tomorrow. A single loss, however frustrating, doesn't define a season. The Dodgers will look to bounce back in the series finale, aiming to secure a series win against the Nationals and wash away the bitter taste of Saturday's defeat. The power is there, the starting pitching is solid, but all eyes will be on whether the bullpen can lock it down when it matters most.
