Shohei Ohtani returned to the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup and delivered a home run, but the team's improvised pitching strategy unraveled in a 9-4 defeat to the Boston Red Sox at Dodger Stadium.
Ohtani, who had missed time with left knee soreness, doubled in the fourth inning and scored on a Freddie Freeman single.
He then launched a two-run homer off Jovani Morán in the fifth to give Los Angeles a brief lead.
The Dodgers' pitching plans collapsed behind opener Edgardo Henriquez.
Reliever Will Klein struggled with his mechanics, allowing three runs over 1⅓ innings while yielding three hits, a walk, and hitting Willson Contreras in the helmet.
Cole Irvin, promoted from Triple-A before the game, surrendered six runs on eight hits over six innings, including a five-run seventh.
The heavy workload preserved the rest of the bullpen ahead of the trade deadline.
Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman addressed the team's approach to roster construction, emphasizing long-term planning over desperate moves.
"When you have an acute need, it's really challenging, because you're paying 150 cents, 200 cents on the dollar," Friedman said.
"So we try to do everything we can to avoid not having to do something.
But when you're able to be in a position to be a little bit more selective and opportunistic about what potentially is available, it just puts you in a better position.
So as much flexibility as we can have, the better."
The pitching staff welcomed closer Edwin Díaz back from the injured list after elbow surgery to remove five loose bodies.
Díaz recorded a save against the Seattle Mariners despite giving up a run and two hits.
"My first game back, I was a little bit anxious," Díaz said.
"But I threw strikes, I made pitches, and at the end of the day I got the W.
Tomorrow, we'll see the video to see what they were [seeing] on the fastball and make an adjustment and try the next time to make some pitches to make them chase."
Díaz followed up with a scoreless frame and two strikeouts on Thursday, bringing his fastball velocity up to 98.9 mph.
"I thought the second day was better than the first, and it's great to have him back," said manager Dave Roberts.
To make room for Irvin, right-hander Brock Stewart was placed on the 15-day injured list due to right shoulder discomfort, marking his third IL stint this year.
Chayce McDermott was designated for assignment.
"Should be short term," Roberts said. "He's done a great job when he's been active on really pitching well.
So we've got to make sure, with the calendar on our side, we've got to protect him and take a couple weeks and then get him back.
This is something that we are being proactive on and really try to talk through it with Brock and understanding our thought behind it, with the bullpen day just the coverage and not trying to put him or anyone else in harm's way."
The roster move aims to prevent long-term harm to Stewart's arm as he recovers.
"This is just more of a formality," Roberts said. "I really believe, the training staff believes that it's going to be short term."
Additionally, the Dodgers opted against rushing starter Blake Snell back from his rehab assignment early, scheduling him for another five-inning rehab start next week.
