Shohei Ohtani hit three singles including a record-breaking 46th home run this season, but the Dodgers still lost, marking their third defeat in nearly four games.

Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani smashed a record-setting 46th home run of the season today, but still couldn’t help his team claim victory. The Dodgers were defeated 7-9 away against the Pittsburgh Pirates, marking their third loss in the last four games.

Ohtani recorded three hits in five at-bats during the game, including a solo home run with one out in the top of the third inning. This marked his 100th home run since joining the Dodgers and set a new team record for fewest games (294) needed to reach 100 homers with the club.

This was also Ohtani’s 42nd home run this season as the leadoff hitter, setting the Major League record for most homers by a leadoff batter in a single season. The ball’s exit velocity reached 120 mph (approximately 193.12 km/h), making it the hardest-hit home run of Ohtani’s career and the sixth home run in the entire league since the Statcast system began in 2015 to exceed 120 mph exit velocity.

The Dodgers as a team collected 12 hits, four more than the Pirates. Will Smith matched Ohtani with three hits in the game, while Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernandez each contributed two hits. Andy Pages also hit his 24th home run of the season in the fourth inning, scoring the Dodgers’ fourth run. Later in the seventh inning, they added two more runs sparked by Ohtani’s double to second base.

However, the Pirates had 10 batters reach base after two strikes, and with runners in scoring position, they went 5-for-11. They capitalized on Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw’s early struggles in the first inning, where he issued two walks, allowing four runs in the frame. Although the Dodgers managed to tie the game at one point, the Pirates pulled ahead again in the bottom of the sixth, scoring three runs off reliever Edgardo Henriquez, who walked two batters and gave up two hits upon entering the game.

In the seventh and eighth innings, the Pirates recorded only one hit each but still managed to score one run in each inning. Despite Ohtani’s RBI double in the top of the ninth, the Pirates ultimately defeated the Dodgers by two runs, earning their ninth win in their last 12 games.

Kershaw, despite giving up four runs in the first inning, pitched five innings with 83 pitches before exiting. He struck out three, walked four, allowed four hits, and gave up four runs. Henriquez pitched 0.1 innings in relief, issuing two walks, allowing one hit, and surrendering three runs, taking the loss.

Pirates rookie reliever Bubba Chandler threw four innings in relief, striking out three, issuing no walks, and allowing six hits (including one home run) while giving up three runs. This was the first time he allowed runs in his three major league appearances, but he still earned his second career MLB win.