Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2025

On a hot Wednesday afternoon at Dodger Stadium, the Los Angeles Dodgers lost to the Saint Louis Cardinals 5-to-3.

The beginning of the game went the Dodgers’ way, and then, the offense quit producing. The bullpen struggled.

Another series lost for the Dodgers. Their lead in the Western Division over the San Diego Padres is down to 2.5 games, and the Padres play Wednesday night. Yes, Dave Roberts rested Max Muncy, who is coming off the IL with a bone bruise in his knee. While Muncy appears to be the spearhead of the Dodgers’ offense, he needs rest coming off a serious knee injury.

Shohei Ohtani started and was brilliant for four innings. If Miguel Rojas didn’t lose a pop fly in the hot, bright sun, Ohtani wouldn’t have allowed any runs while striking out eight. He didn’t issue a walk. Alex Call, the new left fielder from the Washington Nationals, made two sensational plays.

In the third, Call doubled and scored on Ohtani’s 39^th home run. Ohtani also reached on an error and a walk.

The Dodgers’ final run came in the fourth. Andy Pages opened the inning with a single, went to second on a wild pitch, stole third, and came home on a catcher’s error.

The bullpen – Justin Wrobleski, Alex Vesia, and Brock Stewart – struggled. Alex Freeland’s throwing error allowed the winning run to score, but Pages threw at the wrong base.

If the Dodgers want to be Western Division Champs again, they must have better relief pitching, defense, and offense.