Diaz homers and Hader closes it out as Astros beat Ohtani and the Dodgers 6-4
Diaz homers and Hader closes it out as Astros beat Ohtani and the Dodgers 6-4
Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Saturday, July 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani, foreground, gestures during the second inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Los Angeles, Saturday, July 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani puts on his batting helmet during the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Los Angeles, Saturday, July 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani jogs out to the mound before a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Los Angeles, Saturday, July 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Saturday, July 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Saturday, July 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani, foreground, gestures during the second inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Los Angeles, Saturday, July 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani, foreground, gestures during the second inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Los Angeles, Saturday, July 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani puts on his batting helmet during the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Los Angeles, Saturday, July 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani puts on his batting helmet during the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Los Angeles, Saturday, July 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani jogs out to the mound before a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Los Angeles, Saturday, July 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani jogs out to the mound before a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Los Angeles, Saturday, July 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Yainer Diaz homered, Josh Hader got the last four outs for his major league-leading 25th save, and the Houston Astros spoiled Shohei Ohtani’s 31st birthday, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-4 on Saturday.
Ohtani made his fourth mound start of the season, pitching two scoreless innings as he continues to work his way back from elbow surgery. He struck out the side in the second.
Justin Wrobleski (4-3) relieved Ohtani to start the third, and that’s when the Dodgers’ problems started. Zack Short hit a two-run double as Houston scored four times in the inning. Diaz went deep leading off the fourth, his 11th of the season.
Mookie Betts hit his 11th homer for the Dodgers in the first, and Miguel Rojas’ two-run shot in the fourth pulled LA within 5-4.
Jose Altuve led off the seventh with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly.
Hader entered with two on and two out in the eighth and struck out pinch-hitter Esteury Ruiz. In the ninth, he allowed a leadoff single to Ohtani but retired Betts, Will Smith and Freddie Freeman to end it.
Framber Valdez (10-4) struck out seven and allowed four runs in six innings.
Key moment
The Dodgers sent Michael Conforto to the plate to pinch-hit with two out in the eighth, and the Astros brought in Hader. Manager Dave Roberts replaced Conforto with Ruiz, who fanned on Hader’s slider.
Key stat
The Astros have scored 24 runs in the first two games of the series. On Friday night, they handed the Dodgers their worst loss in the history of Dodger Stadium, 18-1.
Up next
Astros RHP Ryan Gusto (5-3, 4.90 ERA) will face the Dodgers’ Emmet Sheehan (0-0, 2.25) for Sunday’s series finale.
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