Blistered, bloodied: Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani victorious despite suffering worst inning of season

Nearly unhittable through his opening nine starts, Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani opened the first inning Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium with a six-pitch strikeout. 

Business as usual, it appeared, as Tampa Bay Rays leadoff hitter Yandy Diaz looked overmatched by a 98-mph four-seam fastball.

Starting the third, Ohtani turned to an 87-mph sweeper to whiff Hunter Feduccia. The four-time NL MVP didn't look like the pitcher who suffered a rare off night against the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 10, yielding four runs (three earned). His earned-run average climbed from 0.74 to 1.06.

Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani wins despite off outing

Battling a bleeding blister, Ohtani on Wednesday suffered his worst start of the season, allowing four, fifth-inning runs. The Rays took advantage of contact off Ohtani's fastball, which he utilized nearly 50 percent of his deliveries.

Was the blister on his finger the reason for his pitch choices?

Feduccia didn't look as overmatched in the fifth, connecting on a double with an exit velocity of 106.8 mph. Neither did Díaz, who executed an RBI single off an 0-2 pitch.

Ohtani (7-2) didn't blame his bloody blister for his ERA rising to 1.47. Despite his worst outing of the season, he claimed the decision as the Dodgers edged the Rays, 5-4. 

"Just part of the game," he said through an interpreter on Spectrum SportsNet Live. "Not a lot of situations where you feel 100 percent."

More MLB news:

• Disturbing trend: Tigers toppled by bottom of Astros' batting order
• Phillies' Kyle Schwarber returns to first base, blasts MLB-leading 25th homer
• Dodgers' Justin Wrobleski replaces Shohei Ohtani in showdown vs. Rays' Drew Rasmussen
• Reds' Eugenio Suarez caps trifecta on offensive MLB achievement
• Masterful 'Maddux:' Brewers' Jacob Misiorowski earns extra day off