Shohei Ohtani Achieves Rare Feat in Return to Mound, Dodgers Fall to Second Place

Shohei Ohtani returned to the mound at Angel Stadium for the first time since 2023, pitching 4 1/3 innings and allowing four earned runs on five hits with seven strikeouts in the Dodgers' 6-5 loss to the Angels. He accomplished a rare feat, becoming the first starting pitcher since 1900 to hit a leadoff triple and then strike out the first batter he faced. Ohtani also struck out former teammate Mike Trout twice, but the Dodgers' loss dropped them to second place in the NL West for the first time since April.