Ohtani Shines, But Dodgers Fall to Mets

NEW YORK — Shohei Ohtani offered the Dodgers a glimmer of hope on Sunday.

Before the game, he faced hitters for the first time since undergoing Tommy John revision surgery in 2023, attracting a large crowd in the visitor’s dugout at Citi Field. Impressively, he reached 97 mph with his fastball and struck out two batters in five attempts.

Later, Ohtani showcased his hitting prowess with a lead-off home run against Mets ace Kodai Senga, tying the major league record with 18 home runs this season. “I thought that infused some life into us,” noted manager Dave Roberts.

Unfortunately, the excitement was short-lived as the Dodgers fell silent, ending the night with a 3-1 loss to the New York Mets. Early errors led to three runs for the Mets, sealing the Dodgers’ fate as they squandered multiple scoring opportunities.

This loss resulted in a series defeat, dropping the team to 3-6 in their last nine games and 9-11 in their last 20. Other than a strong 8-0 start, their performance has been closer to .500, going 24-21 since then, despite another seven-game winning streak during this stretch.

Although they remain at the top of the NL West and are competing closely for the best record in baseball, their recent performance does not reflect a championship-caliber team. “Tonight was one of those nights where we just gave them extra outs, and they took advantage,” Roberts remarked.

Max Muncy, who acknowledged the team’s struggles, highlighted a critical error he made in the first inning. After a bobbled grounder from Juan Soto, the Mets capitalized with a two-run homer from Pete Alonso. Muncy lamented, “It makes you feel like the game is on your shoulders. It’s a frustrating one.”

Despite Ohtani’s spectacular day, the Dodgers’ offense failed to capitalize on chances to add to their score. They encountered repeated frustrations: from missed opportunities to ground into double plays, ultimately leaving them unable to recover. The team must now focus on cleaner baseball as they face a challenging schedule ahead.