Shohei Ohtani struck out 12 over seven skillful innings of one-run ball but was tagged with the loss as the Los Angeles Angels went down 2-0 to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday.
With the Angels lineup managing just two hits, both from Luis Rengifo, Ohtani (6-3) was outdueled by a collection of Dodgers relievers after visiting skipper Dave Roberts opted for a bullpen game.
Ohtani fanned six of the first 10 Dodgers he faced before giving up his only run on Freddie Freeman's homer to lead off the fourth at Angel Stadium.
"(To) go through the top of their lineup the way Sho did (is) very impressive," Angels manager Phil Nevin said.
The two-way star allowed five hits and two walks in his 101-pitch outing.
"I had a nice rhythm in the bullpen and was able to keep it going in the game. I felt comfortable throwing and threw more fastballs than usual as a result," Ohtani said.
"The key is to continue how I felt today. Of course, it's hard and there are days in between, but I need to stay focused (in practice) and do what I did again."
The Angels were denied the opening run in the bottom of the third when Rengifo was tagged out at home plate as he tried to score on Mickey Moniak's lineout to shallow left.
Miguel Vargas helped the Dodgers seal the 2-0 series sweep by adding an insurance run with a solo blast in the top of the ninth.
Ohtani finished 0-for-3 at the plate, going hitless again a day after his hitting streak was snapped at 15 games.
At Pittsburgh's PNC Park, Seiya Suzuki went 2-for-3 with an RBI to help the Chicago Cubs beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-3 for their third win in a row.
Yu Darvish (5-6) was charged with the San Diego Padres' 4-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants after surrendering all four runs in his six-inning start at Oracle Park.
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