See Also New York Yankees The Dodgers are getting pretty good at this whole carry a no-hitter into the later innings and still lose thing. Shohei Ohtani exited after five innings Tuesday night after not allowing a hit to the Phillies, only to see the first reliever surrender a four-run lead in a 9-6 home lo s. This tough setback comes not long after Yoshinobu Yamamoto carried a , only for Baltimore to rally to win the game. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts explained that the team is sticking to its progre sion for Ohtani in his return from Tommy John surgery. Yeah, I would have loved to have him go out there, but the conversation was if hes efficient, he can go to the sixth inning, thats a different conversation, Roberts said. But it was a hard five innings and thats just the way it goes, and guys have to do their jobs. Shohei Ohtani pitching Tuesday against the Dodgers. AP Explore More The Dodgers are trying to ensure they have a Chris Chiozza Jersey healthy Ohtani for the playoffs and they are being deliberate with their proce s for the likely NL MVP. Tuesday marked his 13th start, but just the second in which hes completed five innings. Dave Roberts checked in with Shohei Ohtani after he pitched 5 no-hit innings vs the Phillies tonight to see if he wanted to keep going & Ohtani told Dave it was his call. Freddie trolled Dave for looking stre sed Excellent reporting as always from Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) The Dodgers have yet to extend him beyond 87 pitches, but Ohtani only had to sed 68 on Tuesday while striking out five batters and walking one to protect a 4-0 lead. SportsNet LAs Kirsten Watson reported during the bottom of the fifth that Roberts approached the two-way phenom to see how he felt with a potential historic night on the horizon. Freeman reporteldy joked with Rioberts about his decision. @DodgersNation/X (Roberts) said, How do you feel? Do you want to get back out there?' Watson said. And it was funny because Shohei was like, No, its up to you. And he goes, OK, but do you feel good? He said, I do. Dodgers star first baseman Freddie Freeman even ribbed his manager about the move, and the cameras captured him laughing while the two conversed. Dave Roberts made the call to remove Ohtani after five innings. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Freddie was teasing him like, Oh, I know you look stre sed out over there with that decision,' Watson reported, but, ultimately, getting Shohei through five was the most important thing. Pulling Ohtani immediately backfired with Justin Wrobleski allowing a single to the second batter he faced and yielding five runs in what would be a six-run frame for the Phillies. While the Dodgers rallied for two in the eighth to tie the game, the Phillies punched back with three in the ninth to grab their second straight against the NL West leaders. Roberts indicated he had no regrets about how he handled the situation. He wasnt going to go back out, Robert said. Weve been very steadfast in every situation as far as inning for his usage, from one inning to two innings to three to four to five. We havent deviated from that. So, I was trying to get his pulse on for going forward, where hes at, continue to go to the sixth inning. And he says, Doing OK, and so that was good, but Im not going to have a plan for five innings and then he pitches well and say, Hey, now youre going to go six innings. Hes too important and if something does happen, then thats on me for changing that and we havent done that, so Im not going to do that right now. Justin Wrobleski allowed five runs after replacing Shohei Ohtani. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images Ohtani didnt expre s frustration with the call after lowering his ERA to 3.29 and hitting his 50th homer. As a player, I want to pitch as long as po sible but I also understand and respect the decision the front office and the manager makes, Ohtani said through a translator. I was asked how my body was feeling (in the fifth) and so I said I felt good, my stuff was good. So, its ultimately up to the manager to make the decision. The Dodgers (84-67) lead the Padres by two games in the NL West, but their hope for a first-round bye seems all but over since they now trail the Phillies by 6 1/2 games for the No. 2 seed. Los Angeles will factor heavily into both playoff races since it has remaining series against contenders in the Giants, Diamondbacks and Mariners. Landry Shamet Jersey