Ohtani Strikes Out Trout but Dodgers Still Fall in Anaheim
Shohei Ohtani’s return to the Angel Stadium mound had all the makings of a Hollywood script — drama, nostalgia, star power — but the ending wasn’t exactly a feel-good victory for the Dodgers. In his first time pitching against his former team since leaving in free agency, Ohtani gave fans plenty to talk about, even if the result wasn’t in his favor.
The night began with fireworks — literally in the lineup. Ohtani, serving as both the Dodgers’ leadoff hitter and starting pitcher, ripped a triple to right in his very first at-bat, becoming the first starting pitcher since at least 1900 to open a game that way. He quickly scored on a Mookie Betts single, helping the Dodgers jump to an early 3–0 lead. It looked like the defending champions might finally shake off their recent slump.
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But the real spotlight was on the matchup everyone had been waiting for: Ohtani vs. Mike Trout. The last time these two three-time MVPs faced each other was in the championship moment of the 2023 World Baseball Classic, when Ohtani struck out Trout to clinch the title for Japan. On Wednesday, Ohtani won the duel again — twice. In the first inning, he fanned Trout looking with a sweeper. Then, in the fourth, he brought the heat, delivering a 101 mph fastball on the outside corner for another strikeout. The crowd roared, and for a moment it felt like the Angels’ old superstar had never left.
But baseball is a nine-inning game, and the Angels weren’t about to be just a backdrop. Ohtani’s night on the mound lasted 4 1/3 innings, during which he allowed five hits and four runs. Taylor Ward’s solo homer and Zach Neto’s two-run double proved costly. After Neto’s second big hit chased Ohtani from the game, the Dodgers still held a 5–4 lead, but their injury-depleted bullpen couldn’t hold it.
Logan O’Hoppe delivered the dagger in the eighth with a bases-loaded, two-run single, giving the Angels a 6–5 lead they would not surrender. Former Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen handled the ninth with ease, sealing a sweep of the six-game Freeway Series. The loss dropped the Dodgers into second place in the NL West — a startling fall for a team that had a nine-game lead just six weeks ago.
For Ohtani, the game carried personal meaning. It had been nearly two years since he last pitched in Anaheim, a start that ended abruptly with the elbow injury requiring surgery and keeping him off the mound in 2024. Despite the loss, he acknowledged the emotions of returning, saying it was one of his favorite places to play and that pitching there again was important to him.
The Dodgers now face a pivotal weekend series against the surging Padres, but Wednesday’s game reminded everyone of something: even in defeat, Shohei Ohtani has a way of making the night unforgettable.
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