Shohei Ohtani’s 42nd home run this season wasn’t enough to get the Los Angeles Dodgers to beat the Angels in Anaheim with a 7-4 MLB defeat, his second straight setback since losing to his team 5-4 with the Doronto Blue Jays.
Jose Soriano allowed two hits and registered two walks for the Angels, hitting six batsmen in six uncensored innings, while Zach Neto hit the home run in the first game of pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s tough night.
“I don’t think he has the best thing tonight,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Yamamoto Motorcycle. “I don’t think he has the best order.
“From the beginning, they were very aggressive and swing the bats early. [respond].
“We don’t have any answers to Soriano, who is the guy who put the ball on the ground. I think we didn’t have a guy going to second base until he quits the game, so we really have no threat.”
Los Angeles Angels: Zach Neto Stats
Shortstop Neto’s 18th home run of the year was his eighth lead of the season, setting a new Angels single-season record.
Neto broke Brian Downing’s record, which was set in 1987, while Kyle Schwarber’s Filadelphia Phillies last season had an MLB single-season record of 15.
Angels recovered from a 9-5 loss to the Detroit Tigers and now win two of their last three games.
Winning in the three-game series opener puts them fourth in the Western Conference in the United States.
Los Angeles Dodgers ‘not finished work’
Roberts was inspired by the eighth Dodgers’ comeback bid, which included home runs for Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Max Munchy.
“It’s nice to see us put a game together…but the loss is the loss,” Roberts reflected. “You have to praise Soriano.
“Those guys took the lead and didn’t look back. Yoshi wasn’t sharp and our offense couldn’t overcome the starting point.
“There are some good things, but when it comes to teams, that’s not enough.”
Major League Baseball points are “more fun”
The Dodgers beat the rear of the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 and are now leading the slim at San Diego Padres at the top of the National League West
“I hate to say that [the previous] The loss lasted,” Roberts said, “We are good at resetting and coming back.
“There must be a sense of urgency. We’re looking for some traction and stacking some wins. I don’t think anyone is blind to points. It’s getting even more interesting.
“We had to get there and play well.
The second game in the series took place on Wednesday (ET/18:38 PT/02:30 BST).
