Dodgers Recap: Ohtani can’t do it all as bullpen loses lead late

CHAVEZ RAVINE — Dodger Stadium played host to a frustrating afternoon on Wednesday as the Dodgers dropped a 5–3 heartbreaker to the St. Louis Cardinals. For four innings, it looked like a Shohei Ohtani highlight reel in the making—until the eighth inning turned the tide and left Dodger fans with a familiar sour taste: bullpen woes and mental mistakes derailing what should’ve been a win.

Let’s break this one down into the two different games it really was.

The first half of this contest belonged almost entirely to Shohei Ohtani. On the mound, he was electric. The two-way superstar struck out eight batters in four innings, allowing just two hits and one run—a soft RBI bunt single by Brendan Donovan in the third. That lone blemish didn’t overshadow his dominance.

And then came the bat.

In the bottom of the third, Ohtani smashed a two-run homer—his 39th of the season—off Cardinals starter Matthew Liberatore. The blast, a no-doubter to center field, also marked Ohtani’s 1,000th career hit. It gave the Dodgers a 2–1 lead and sent the Dodger Stadium crowd into a frenzy.

The Dodgers tacked on one more in the fourth thanks to Andy Pages’ hustle. After singling, he advanced to second on a wild pitch and stole third. He would score on a throwing error by Cardinals catcher Pedro Pagés, giving the Dodgers a 3–1 lead.

For a hot minute, everything felt like it was under control.

But baseball has a way of humbling you—and the second half of this game was a gut punch.

After Ohtani exited following his scheduled four innings of work, lefty Justin Wrobleski handled the fifth through seventh innings relatively well. He gave up one run in the sixth on a groundout by Lars Nootbaar but stranded the tying run at second. Still, the Dodgers held a 3–2 lead going into the eighth.

That’s when everything unraveled.

Alex Vesia entered and immediately allowed a single to Alec Burleson. Masyn Winn followed with another single. With two outs, Jordan Walker knocked a run-scoring single into center field. Then came the killer—a throwing error by third baseman Alex Freeland that allowed Walker to take second and Winn to scamper home. Instead of escaping tied, the Dodgers trailed 4–3.

In the ninth, Brock Stewart tried to keep it close but was quickly in trouble. After hitting a batter and giving up a single, he allowed an RBI double to Nootbaar that pushed the Cardinals’ lead to 5–3.

The Dodgers had a chance in the ninth. Max Muncy walked with two outs, but the offense fizzled as Freeland grounded out to end it.

What stings about this loss isn’t just the blown lead—it’s how the Dodgers lost. The bullpen couldn’t hold a two-run cushion, and the defense didn’t help. Freeland’s throwing error in the eighth proved pivotal, allowing the go-ahead runner into scoring position. Earlier in the game, he popped up a bunt with a runner on second, killing a potential rally.

The Dodgers were also wasteful at the plate. Despite eight hits—including three from Freddie Freeman—they went just 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position and grounded into two double plays.

If you’re looking for the silver lining, it’s this: Shohei Ohtani remains elite as he builds up his pitch count. His pitching velocity was sharp, his command strong, and he continues to show he’s one of the best hitters on the planet. That home run was loud, and Dodgers fans got to witness a milestone in his 1,000th hit.

But on the flip side, we’re seeing cracks. The bullpen—which has been mostly strong of late—has shown signs of wear in the last few games. And with so many close games, the Dodgers can’t afford defensive lapses or poor situational hitting.

This game, more than anything, felt like a wasted opportunity—especially given the early momentum.

The Dodgers fall to 66–49, still leading the NL West, but losses like these are the ones you circle and regret come October. The Cardinals, now 58–58, are fighting to stay relevant in the NL Central, and they played like a team with urgency in the final innings.

Ohtani gave the Dodgers everything he had. Freeman collected three hits. Pages flashed his speed and instincts. But it wasn’t enough.

If the Dodgers want to make a deep postseason run, they’ll need to clean up the mental errors, shore up late-inning pitching, and capitalize on scoring chances when they arise.

Because as this game reminded us, four strong innings isn’t enough—not when the other five unravel so completely.

Next Up: The Dodgers look to get back on track on Friday against the high-flying Blue Jays, who are coming of completely pulverizing the Rockies in Denver. Friday’s series opener will feature two sure-fire Hall of Famers: Clayton Kershaw for the Dodgers and Max Scherzer for the Jays. Should be must see TV. Game time 7:10 PDT. See you at the ballpark!

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