Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Dodgers) failed to save the team, which was on the brink of a losing streak, as he remained silent in scoring situations.

The Dodgers lost 6-7 in an away game against the Chicago Cubs in the 2025 Major League at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois, on the 24th (Korean time).

The Dodgers recorded 16 wins and 9 losses, falling into a 2-game losing streak, while the Cubs, who had a 2-game winning streak, improved to 16 wins and 10 losses.

The Dodgers took the lead in the third inning. Lead-off batter Michael Conforto walked, and Austin Barnes and Shohei Ohtani hit consecutive singles to load the bases with one out. Mookie Betts' well-hit ball became a line drive to the first baseman, but Teoscar Hernández came through with a 2-run clutch hit to left field.

The Cubs responded in the bottom of the fourth inning. With one out, Dansby Swanson hit a single, and Nico Hoerner walked, positioning him and Swanson on first and second base when Pete Crow-Armstrong hit a 3-run homer to take the lead. With a favorable count of 2 balls and no strikes, Crow-Armstrong connected with a low 94 mph (151 km/h) sinker from Noah Davis, launching it for a home run to left-center. This marked his fifth homer of the season.

The Dodgers did not back down. In the fifth inning, lead-off batter Miguel Rojas hit a single, and Barnes reached on a pitcher error to create a no-out situation with runners on first and second base. After Ohtani made an out with a fly ball to left field, Barnes was caught stealing, changing the situation to 2 outs and runners on second base. However, Betts hit a game-tying double, and Hernández followed with a 2-run homer to left-center, taking the lead. Hernández took the first pitch slider of 83.6 mph (134 km/h) from Cubs starter Boyd and, after a bat flip, celebrated his sixth home run of the season. The Dodgers led 5-3.

The Cubs lineup was also formidable. In the bottom of the fifth inning, with one out, Kyle Tucker, Justin Turner, and Busch each drew walks, creating a bases-loaded situation. Swanson hit a 2-run single to tie the game at 5-5, then Hoerner delivered a go-ahead sacrifice fly, and Crow-Armstrong added a 1-run single to regain a 7-5 lead for the Cubs.

In the sixth inning, the Dodgers chased one run with a solo home run from Andy Pahes after one out, but it was not enough to tie the game. Conforto's single and Barnes' double continued the two-out opportunity on second and third base, but Ohtani settled for a fly out to the shortstop.

The Dodgers' opener, Ben Kaspariuss, completed his task with 2⅔ scoreless innings, but Davis gave up 3 runs in ⅔ inning, and Jack Dreyer struggled with 4 runs in 1 inning.

Betts' 3 hits in 5 at-bats with 1 RBI and Hernández' 2 hits in 4 at-bats with 1 home run and 4 RBIs went unnoticed in the loss. Ohtani added 1 hit but ended up with 1 hit in 5 at-bats and 1 strikeout, failing to contribute to the team. His season batting average dropped from .264 to .261.

In contrast, Cubs starter Boyd recorded 6 innings, allowing 10 hits (2 home runs), 1 walk, and 4 strikeouts while giving up 6 runs (3 earned), but thanks to the support from the lineup, he earned his second win of the season (2 losses). In the lineup, Swanson contributed with 2 hits in 4 at-bats, 2 RBIs, and 2 runs, while Crow-Armstrong had 2 hits in 3 at-bats, with 1 home run, 4 RBIs, and 1 run.

The Dodgers will take a break on the 25th and then play a 3-game weekend series at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates starting on the 26th.

[OSEN]