Ohtani strikes out 9 Marlins in first start on 5 days' rest this season

LOS ANGELES -- It may not have been Shohei Ohtani's sharpest outing on the mound, but he was able to bear down when he needed to.

Pitching on five days' rest for the first time this year -- and only the third time in his 19 regular-season pitching starts as a Dodger -- Ohtani allowed a season-high nine Marlins to reach base in Tuesday night's game at Dodger Stadium. He limited the damage to two runs (one earned), completing six innings for the fifth time in as many starts this season.

Since the earned run became an official statistic in the National League in 1912, Ohtani's 0.60 ERA is the fifth-lowest by a Dodger through his first five starts of the season. Only Fernando Valenzuela (0.20 in 1981 and 0.21 in '85), Don Sutton (0.42 in 1972) and Jesse Petty (0.57 in 1926) had lower marks.

Ohtani struck out nine Marlins hitters, but he also tied season highs by giving up five hits and issuing three walks. He needed 104 pitches -- the most he's thrown as a Dodger in the regular season or postseason -- to get through the start.

For the second time in his five pitching starts this season, Ohtani did not hit. Having his bat in the lineup may not have made a difference on a night when the Marlins' pitching staff was dealing, handing the Dodgers a 2-1 loss to set up a rubber game in Wednesday afternoon's series finale.

Ohtani's own errant throw led to the Marlins' first run of the game. He hit Agustín Ramírez to lead off the second inning. When Ramírez broke for second base, Ohtani made an errant throw that allowed Ramírez to advance to third with nobody out. Ramírez came in to score on an Owen Caissie sacrifice fly, and the run was unearned.

In the fifth inning, Ohtani gave up an earned run for just the second time this season. Christopher Morel drew a walk to lead off the inning, later getting over to second with two outs on a Jakob Marsee sacrifice bunt. Kyle Stowers followed by slicing a single into right field, bringing Morel home safely.

Ohtani gave up a one-out base hit in the sixth inning, but he struck out a trio of Marlins to cap his evening.