Ohtani's 1st multi-HR game of '26 not enough to stop Dodgers' skid

CHICAGO -- Shohei Ohtani may have put on a power show, but by the end of Wednesday afternoon's series finale, "Go, Cubs, Go" blared over the Wrigley Field speakers as the Cubs raised the "W" for the third time in as many games against L.A.

Ohtani had his first multihomer game of 2026 in a 7-6 loss on the North Side, leading off the contest by taking Shota Imanaga deep and helping the Dodgers get back in the game with a two-run shot in the 8th inning. But Ohtani's big day did not reverse L.A.'s fortunes of late, as the team extended its season-high losing streak to six games.

This was only the Dodgers' second losing streak of at least six games since April 2019. The other came in July 2025, when they lost seven in a row.

With his first long ball, Ohtani came one step closer to remaking another Dodgers franchise record in his own image. His 11th leadoff homer of the season and his 29th as a Dodger passed the great Davey Lopes for the second most in franchise history.

Mookie Betts holds the Dodgers' franchise record with 32 leadoff blasts, while Kyle Schwarber holds the MLB single-season record with 15 in 2024. With four more leadoff homers, Ohtani could potentially hold both records this year.

• Most leadoff home runs in a single season

Ohtani worked the count full against Imanaga before getting an elevated four-seamer down the middle on the seventh pitch of the at-bat. Ohtani sent his 25th homer a Statcast-projected 376 feet to right field at 110.2 mph off the bat.

But in the bottom of the first, fellow MVP candidate Pete Crow-Armstrong answered back with a leadoff shot of his own off Eric Lauer. That inauspicious beginning was a sign of what was to come in what ended up as Lauer's worst start as a Dodger, as he allowed six runs on a season-high 11 hits in four innings.

It was the first time that the Dodgers lost a game with Lauer on the mound for them. Prior to Wednesday, they had won all nine games he appeared in.

While the Dodgers trailed by as many as six runs, Ohtani's second blast -- his 26th of the season -- capped a five-run eighth inning that brought his team within a run of the Cubs. The comeback stalled there, however, and L.A. departed Chicago without picking up a win.

Ohtani has hit 135 home runs as a Dodger. Only three other Major Leaguers have hit more homers in their first three seasons with a team: Mark McGwire (159 for the Cardinals), Alex Rodriguez (156, Rangers) and Babe Ruth (148, Yankees).