Shohei Ohtani delivered six solid innings before the Dodgers saw their 5-run lead evaporate at PNC Park. Ryan Ward’s first career grand slam gave Los Angeles a 8-3 edge, and Ohtani appeared on track for a fifth straight win. The momentum shifted when catcher Dalton Rushing declined to challenge two borderline calls on Ohtani’s fastballs, and the crowd sensed trouble.

In the seventh, Brandon Lowe capitalized on a 98‑mph pitch judged a ball, ripping a two‑run double that cut the lead to three. The Pirates rallied, with Tyler Callihan’s three‑run homer in the eighth and Spencer Horwitz’s two‑run blast sealing a 9-8 win. Ohtani surrendered season‑highs in hits (six), runs (four) and earned runs (three). Pittsburgh’s comeback stunned the league.

Roberts left Ohtani on the mound for the ninth, where he homered to narrow the gap, but the bullpen could not hold. With starter Will Smith now on the 10‑day injured list, Ohtani will pitch again next week while the Dodgers try to protect a fragile lead in the NL West. The loss drops LA to a tie for second place.