Dave Roberts didn't need much time to make his Shohei Ohtani decision

The Los Angeles Dodgers suffered a brutal loss on Wednesday night. After carrying a five-run lead into the later innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Los Angeles watched the game unravel in an eventual 9-8 defeat at PNC Park. It was the type of collapse that leaves managers searching for answers heading into the next day.

When it came to Shohei Ohtani, however, Dave Roberts didn't need much time to make a decision. Shortly after the loss, Dodgers beat writer Bill Plunkett reported that Roberts confirmed Ohtani would be back in the lineup as the designated hitter for Thursday's series finale.

Given what Ohtani accomplished during Wednesday's game, it was hardly a surprise.

Shohei Ohtani delivered another two-way masterpiece

Even though the Dodgers didn't come away with a victory, Ohtani once again reminded everyone why he remains one of the most unique players baseball has ever seen.

On the mound, the superstar right-hander worked 6 2/3 innings while allowing six hits and four runs, three of them earned. While those numbers marked season highs for Ohtani, they hardly tell the full story of how effective he was for most of the night.

The Dodgers held a comfortable lead when Ohtani exited the game and appeared poised to secure another victory. In fact, Ohtani was on track for what would have been his fifth consecutive win before Pittsburgh mounted its comeback.

The outing came after a dominant stretch to begin the season. Entering Wednesday, Ohtani owned a microscopic 0.74 ERA through his first 10 starts and had established himself as one of the favorites in the National League Cy Young race.

For most pitchers, a performance like Wednesday's would be enough. For Ohtani, there was still more work to do.

Ohtani nearly rescued the Dodgers at the plate

After watching the bullpen surrender the lead, Ohtani tried to bring the Dodgers back one final time. Trailing by three runs in the ninth inning, he launched a two-run homer to cut Pittsburgh's lead to 9-8 and put pressure on the Pirates to finish the game.

The blast added another memorable moment to an already impressive performance and nearly erased what had become a frustrating night for Los Angeles. Unfortunately for the Dodgers, the comeback fell short.

Still, Ohtani's ability to impact the game on both sides of the ball was on full display.

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Roberts' decision speaks volumes

The Dodgers entered Wednesday with a remarkable 36-3 record when leading after seven innings. That statistic makes the loss sting even more, particularly considering Los Angeles received a quality outing from Ohtani and a grand slam from rookie Ryan Ward.

Yet despite the disappointment, Roberts never had to think twice about Ohtani's status for Thursday. The decision was immediate.

After nearly seven innings on the mound and a ninth-inning home run at the plate, Ohtani remains one of the few players in baseball capable of carrying a team in multiple ways during the same game. That's why Roberts isn't interested in changing anything.

The Dodgers may be looking for answers after Wednesday's collapse, but they already know one thing. As long as Ohtani is healthy, he'll continue to be at the center of everything they do.

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