Shohei Ohtani homers in 3rd straight game, but Dodgers' malaise continues in another loss

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani’s latest home run binge hasn’t been enough to spark the Los Angeles Dodgers out of a summer malaise that’s endangering their customary perch atop the NL West.

Ohtani homered in his third straight game Monday night, hitting his 42nd of the season in the eighth inning of the Dodgers’ 7-4 loss to the Los Angeles Angels.

The Dodgers trailed 7-0 when Ohtani connected off Shaun Anderson with one out, driving his fourth homer in five games into the right field bleachers to tie Philadelphia’s Kyle Schwarber for the NL lead. Seattle’s Cal Raleigh leads the majors with 45 homers.

Ohtani also started a rally: Mookie Betts and Will Smith then singled before Max Muncy brought them home with his 17th homer, trimming the Dodgers’ deficit to three runs and inspiring thunderous roars from the Dodgers fans comprising more than half of the Angel Stadium crowd.

But the Dodgers got no closer, with Connor Brogdon and longtime Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen calmly wrapping up the sub-.500 Angels’ fifth consecutive win over their crosstown rivals.

The loss shrunk the Dodgers’ lead over San Diego in the NL West to just one game — the smallest cushion since June 14.