LOS ANGELES -- Shohei Ohtani pitched four dominant innings in what qualified as his best start this season, during which he struck out eight batters. He also clobbered his 39th home run, registering his 1,000th career hit in the process. But what should have been a banner day for the Los Angeles Dodgers was instead one of lament.

A two-run lead heading into the final four innings turned into a 5-3 defeat to a listless St. Louis Cardinals team on Wednesday afternoon, the result of sloppy defense, an ineffective offense and more shoddy bullpen work. The Dodgers have now split their first six games in August and are just 13-17 since the start of July. Their division lead over the San Diego Padres , a team they'll play six times later this month, is down to 2½ games.

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