HOUSTON –– The first four innings were frustrating. The next five were futile.

Just when it looked like the Dodgers were emerging from their recent offensive slump, having won back-to-back games with 12 total runs the previous two days, the team came right back down to earth on Tuesday in a 2-1 loss to the Houston Astros.

The night’s biggest story, of course, was Shohei Ohtani.

For the third time in his last four pitching starts this year, the two-way star was given a one-way task, removed from the lineup as designated hitter to focus only on his duties atop the mound.

He responded by producing a seven-inning, two-run, eight-strikeout start –– making only two real mistakes on home runs given up to Christian Walker in the second and Branden Shewmake in the third.

The problem: The Dodgers (22-14) watched their Ohtani-less lineup go back in the tank.

The team squandered several golden chances early on, leaving six men on base through the first four frames, including a wasted bases-loaded opportunity in the fourth.

And from there, things got even worse. Astros right-hander Peter Lambert retired nine of his final 10 batters to complete a scoreless seven-inning start; the first the Astros (15-22) have gotten all season from their league-worst pitching staff. 

The Houston bullpen gave up one run in the eighth on a Kyle Tucker RBI single, but did enough otherwise to keep the lead intact.

What it means

For as good as Ohtani has been as a pitcher –– finishing Tuesday with an MLB-best 0.97 ERA –– his inability to impact the offense remains a problem.

Ohtani was out of the lineup, after all, in part because of his current 0-for-17 skid as a hitter. Following a fifth-straight hitless performance Monday, manager Dave Roberts decided to change course and only have Ohtani pitch Tuesday.

The four-time MVP should be back in the lineup Wednesday, when the Dodgers will be trying to avoid a third-consecutive series loss. They could use more from his bat. Because right now, even his most dominant pitching starts aren’t enough to ensure a win. 

Who’s hot

Fresh off winning National League Pitcher of the Month for March and April, Ohtani did continue his torrid start to the season on the mound, producing his longest pitching start since joining the Dodgers.

Not only did the right-hander go seven innings, but did so on only 89 pitches.

Walker tagged him for a mammoth home run in the second, blasting his 30th career long ball against the Dodgers to the stadium train tracks high above left field. But other than that, the only other damage Ohtani allowed was on Shewmake’s homer, which was a Crawford Box special that traveled only 337 feet to left.

Who’s not

The Dodgers lineup, especially with the bases loaded.

The latest example came in Tuesday’s fourth inning, when Max Muncy, Andy Pages and Alex Freeland all got aboard with two outs against Lambert. With the Dodgers down 2-0, Miguel Rojas came up with a chance to flip the game.

Instead, he hit into a fielder’s choice, dropping the Dodgers’ team batting average to .212 this season in bases-loaded situations (sixth-worst in the majors). From their 38 such plate appearances, they’ve scored only 25 runs.

The Dodgers, of course, struggled in other situational opportunities Tuesday –– which were magnified by their seventh game in the last eight without a home run 

They went just 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position. They hit into their 32nd double-play of the season, second-most in the majors. And they saw one of their most trusted veteran bats in Rojas waste some of their best chances. His 0-for-4 included the bases-loaded out, the double-play grounder, and the final out of the game with the tying run on first.

Up next

Tyler Glasnow (3-0, 2.56 ERA) will face Lance McCullers Jr (2-2, 6.32 ERA) in the series finale on Wednesday afternoon.