Dodgers' Bullpen Collapses Following Five No-Hit Innings Pitched by Shohei Ohtani, Resulting in a Loss
In a thrilling display of pitching prowess, Shohei Ohtani took to the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Philadelphia Phillies on a recent evening. Ohtani, a two-way star who has been managed with care due to a recent Tommy John surgery, did not disappoint.
Ohtani had not given up a hit to the Philadelphia Phillies at the time, a testament to his strong performance. He walked Bryce Harper with two outs in the first inning but quickly found his rhythm, retiring the last 13 batters he faced. His fastball eclipsed 100 mph seven times and topped out at 101.7 mph, leaving the Phillies' hitters struggling to catch up.
Despite Ohtani's impressive outing, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts decided not to let him pitch past the fifth inning. The team had chosen to avoid pushing Ohtani past the five-inning mark for the remainder of the regular season.
Unfortunately, the Dodgers' bullpen could not maintain the momentum. The relief pitchers yielded nine runs over four innings, blowing a 4-0 lead and ultimately resulting in a 9-6 loss to the Phillies. This outing marked the fourth time in six games that the Dodgers' bullpen has given up 13 runs in its last eight innings against the Phillies.
The struggles of the bullpen could potentially impact Ohtani's role in the playoffs. Brusdar Graterol, Phil Bickford, and Dylan Floro, the Dodgers' bullpen players responsible for the poor performance against the Phillies, have ERAs of approximately 2.00 for Graterol, 4.50 for Bickford, and 5.40 for Floro.
The team's bullpen now has a 4.30 ERA on the season, a far cry from the dominant pitching performances they have been known for. The struggles have been particularly noticeable in their recent games against the Phillies, a team that has already clinched a division title.
Ohtani returned to the Dodgers' dugout after his best pitching performance this season, but it was the bullpen that left fans and the team questioning their confidence and future prospects. As the playoffs approach, the Dodgers will need to address these issues if they hope to secure a championship.
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