Ohtani pitches into 5th inning and triples, but O'Hoppe spurs Angels past Dodgers 6-5 for sweep

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani yielded four runs on five hits while pitching a season-high 4 1/3 innings, but Logan O'Hoppe delivered a two-run single in the eighth inning and the Los Angeles Angels swept the season Freeway Series with a 6-5 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night.

Ohtani fanned Mike Trout twice among his seven strikeouts. He also tripled and scored in the first inning, but struck out in his final three at-bats.

Will Smith hit a two-run homer and Mookie Betts had two RBI singles for the defending World Series champion Dodgers, who have lost four straight. They’ve fallen into second place in the NL West behind the San Diego Padres, who arrive at Dodger Stadium on Friday for a weekend series.

The sub-.500 Angels improbably swept both three-game series against the Dodgers this season. They’ve won a franchise-record seven straight over their crosstown rivals.

Ohtani mostly looked sharp in his first trip to the Angel Stadium mound since he left it with what turned out to be a torn elbow ligament in August 2023. He gave up a homer to Taylor Ward in the second, but settled in until the fifth.

Ohtani left with a 5-4 lead, and the Dodgers' beleaguered bullpen nearly made it stand up despite having five high-leverage arms on the injured list.

One inning earlier, Angels rookie Bryce Teodosio robbed Andy Pages of a homer with a leaping catch in right-center.

Brock Burke (6-1) pitched the eighth, and Kenley Jansen got his 23rd save.

After the Angels loaded the bases in the eighth against Justin Wrobleski (4-4) and Edgardo Henriquez, O’Hoppe put the Angels ahead with his clutch single.

Ohtani has 15 strikeouts over his last 8 1/3 innings.

Clayton Kershaw (6-2, 3.14 ERA) seems likely to take the mound Friday against San Diego.

Yusei Kikuchi (6-7, 3.37) will start Friday in West Sacramento for the Angels.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

Los Angeles Angels' Bryce Teodosio, right, is tagged out by Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Alex Freeland as he tries to steal third during the seventh inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Angels' Mike Trout, right, smiles after Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani after Ohtani struck him out while catcher Will Smith stands at the plate during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani, second from right, waits to be taken out of the game throws to the plate during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Angels' Logan O'Hoppe, center, hits an RBI single as Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith watches during the eighth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Coach Steve Kerr spoke with Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga during the morning shootaround Thursday about the player's situation being out of the rotation for more than a month now with expectations he will be traded before the deadline next month.

“We talked this morning and that’s all private,” Kerr said. “I will keep coaching him, he’ll be part of the team, he’ll be here. It is what it is.”

Kerr discounted any issues between them as being reason Kuminga has reportedly requested a trade from the team after not being used in the last 14 games since Dec. 18 and 17 of 18 — though he has been listed as injured for nine games this season.

“Our relationship is fine,” Kerr said before Golden State's 126-113 win over the New York Knicks. “There's not a whole lot I can say about the other stuff. It is what it is, difficult situation for everybody and part of this league, part of the job. We just keep moving forward.”

Kuminga has been training much of the time on his own, shooting on the Warriors’ practice floor out of the eyes of fans at Chase Center. He wears a black hood over his head on the end of the bench during games. Perhaps Kuminga and the Warriors weren't a great fit from Day 1 — not that it's his fault — and he might be eager to leave and start fresh elsewhere. If so, the Golden State brass might want to make sure he doesn't get hurt before trying to trade him.

Yet nobody has taken issue with his work ethic, at least not publicly. Kuminga, selected seventh overall in the 2021 draft, has been known to stay long after games shooting on the arena's main floor.

“It’s not a distraction at all. It’s a very unique situation but our job is just to keep playing, keep winning, it’ll resolve itself one way or the other,” Stephen Curry said.

The 23-year-old from the Democratic Republic of the Congo has appeared in just 18 games total with 13 starts, averaging 11.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists.

On Sept. 30, he agreed to a two-year contract that could be worth up to $46.5 million if the team were to exercise its option for 2026-27. Kuminga had had a $7.9 million qualifying offer in hand since June 29 but was also weighing other options and he missed media day.

He has long had the support and confidence of teammates — like Jimmy Butler saying he has been having Kuminga over and continuing to encourage him.

“We love JK in this locker room, that's not going to change,” Butler said postgame. “If he happens to not be in here, we'll still rock with JK. I speak for everybody. We love the guy. I wish him the best here, I wish him the best wherever. It doesn't change. We don't listen to the noise, I hope he don't listen to the noise he keep coming here with a smile doing what he's supposed to do and being the ultimate pro.”

Kuminga missed much of last season with a right ankle injury. He averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 24.3 minutes over 47 games with 10 starts. He also scored 15.3 points per game over eight playoff games while shooting 48.4% from the floor and making 40% of his 3-point attempts. That included a career-best 30-point performance in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Kerr said the uncertainty around Kuminga's future “won't be a distraction.”

“Jonathan's a great young guy, his teammates like him,” Kerr said. "He's handling himself well.”

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga, middle, sits near the team bench during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks in San Francisco, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga (1) and Utah Jazz center Oscar Tshiebwe (34) swap jerseys after the Warriors defeat the Jazz during an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Justine Willard)