"If I could have contributed a little more" - Shohei Ohtani takes responsibility for his batting amid Dodgers loss despite clutch 9th inning home run 

Shohei Ohtani lamented his failure to deliver a multiple-hit game on Friday night as the Los Angeles Dodgers were beaten 6-5 on the road by the Oakland Athletics. Ohtani registered only one hit during the game, although that lone hit was a clutch three-run home run in the ninth inning, which brought the deficit down to just one run.

Since signing the record-breaking $700 million contract with the Dodgers during the offseason, Shohei Ohtani is arguably enjoying his best MLB campaign with the bat. The Japanese superstar is touted to win his third MVP award despite playing exclusively as a designated hitter this season. He is batting .309/400/.628 with 1.028 OPS and 33 home runs. Notably, he leads the National League in each of those categories.

However, Ohtani was going through a brief drought over the past few days after failing to get a hit in his last three outings. He had gone 0-for-15 until he hit that clutch three-run shot on Friday night. Following the defeat, he talked about his performance through his interpreter, Will Ireton.

"To be honest, the last several games, I haven't been feeling too great at the plate. And the previous at-bat before that home run at-bat – if I could have contributed a little bit more, I think we wouldn't have been in that spot late in the [ninth] inning," Ohtani said.

“The balls that I’m supposed to be hitting well, I’m not — fly balls that should have been going out haven’t been going out, line drives right at the guy. So it’s more about me rather than the [other] team or how the team is attacking,” he added.

Shohei Ohtani knocked the home run with two outs in the final inning, after which Dodgers catcher Will Smith grounded out to end the game.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts defends Shohei Ohtani for his recent struggles

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts defended Shohei Ohtani for his recent struggles at the plate (Image Credit: IMAGN)

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts came to Ohtani's defense and absolved him for the team's subpar showing in recent weeks. The Dodgers have only managed an 8-12 record since July 7, sandwiched by the All-Star break in between. Moreover, they lost six of the previous eight games, including an ongoing three-game losing streak.

“It’s just not Shohei’s job alone to carry this offense. That’s impossible. He’s a guy that is the top of the order, the most dangerous, most talented player we have. I think the game plan has to be to try to limit him, and if you can limit him, you take your chance with the eight other guys,” Roberts said.

Mookie Betts is still on the IL, while Freddie Freeman is presently out of the team due to personal reasons. Therefore, Teoscar Hernandez and Shohei Ohtani are the only batters in the current Dodgers lineup with an average of at least .260 and an OPS above .800.

The Dodgers will face the Oakland Athletics again on Saturday for the second of their three-game series at Oakland Coliseum before heading home to take on the Philadelphia Phillies.