LOS ANGELES -- White Sox starting pitcher Lance Lynn lost a game and probably a little money in the process during a 5-1 setback to the Dodgers on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium.

After allowing five runs (four earned) over five-plus innings, NBC Sports Chicago television cameras caught the big right-hander punching an iPad sitting in the dugout. He then picked up the same iPad and slammed it to the ground.

“It was an iPad I didn’t like,” said Lynn with a wry smile. “So, I broke it.”

When asked if he now owned said iPad, Lynn added, “I’m probably going to have to pay for it, yeah.”

On-field life has grown frustrating for Lynn (4-7), whose 6.75 ERA ranks second highest among Major League qualifiers behind Jordan Lyles at 6.89. Lyles has an 0-11 record for the last-place Royals.

Lynn’s biggest struggles have come in the first inning, where he allowed four runs on Monday to the Dodgers (38-29) via two-run home runs from Will Smith and David Peralta. Over the course of his 14 starts in 2023, Lynn has allowed 19 earned runs on 25 hits with five home runs and eight walks in the opening frame.

But there’s no rhyme or reason for Lynn’s first-inning struggles.

“Today, it was pitch selection,” Lynn said. “There’s been times where I wasn’t quite as sharp in the first inning, but when it’s all said and done, the sinker in that Will hit was down and in. It’s kind of his spot, but it’s also in the area [where], after throwing him away a bunch of times, you think he might have a chance to roll over it.

“He’s ready for it. He’s been hot. He took a good swing. The cutter to Peralta, I thought he popped it up when he first hit it, but he got more wood on it than I thought. I have to be better, plain and simple.”

Over the next four innings, Lynn was better. With Tony Gonsolin (4-1) dealing against a White Sox offense hitting balls on the ground too much, that first inning was enough to drop the White Sox to 29-39 and 5 1/2 games behind the first-place Twins in the American League Central.

“The fastball was good, the cutter was good,” said White Sox manager Pedro Grifol. “He just got beat on two pitches he missed out over the plate. Other than that, he was really efficient.”

“It’s kind of how it’s going right now,” Lynn said. “Two pitches cost you four runs in the first inning and then after that, it’s just a battle. You put your team in a hole there early. All in all, my stuff feels pretty good. I have to figure out how to have productive outings, because this isn’t going to work.”

After seven starts in 2022, Lynn had a 7.50 ERA. He finished with a 3.99 ERA for the season, posting a 2.52 ERA over his final 14 starts.

“I need to get on it,” Lynn said. “They are about the same, to be honest. It feels like you have good stuff and you are close, but a couple of swings costs you a bunch of runs. I have to give our team a chance to win. Tonight, I didn’t do that.”