PITTSBURGH –– Dalton Rushing faced a missed opportunity in the seventh inning on Wednesday night.

He and pitcher Shohei Ohtani didn’t utilize MLB’s new Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) system effectively during a pivotal moment. This oversight contributed to the Dodgers’ frustrating late-game collapse against the Pittsburgh Pirates, where they eventually lost 9-8 after blowing a five-run lead.

Ohtani later admitted, “I wasn’t sure whether to take on the challenge,” expressing that the outcome could have been more favorable.

While the ABS mishap wasn’t the sole reason for the loss—especially given that the Dodgers’ bullpen allowed five runs in the eighth inning—it sparked a lot of discussion in the clubhouse afterward.

Ohtani, gesturing with his hands, mimicked the ABS challenge signal and noted, “But I didn’t take the final step.”

During the seventh, the Dodgers had previously surged ahead with a 6-1 lead following a grand slam by Ryan Ward. Ohtani was on the hill trying to fine-tune his pitching performance.

However, against Tyler Callihan, the failure to challenge a pitch early on proved catastrophic. With a 1-0 count, Ohtani threw a low fastball that was considered within the strike zone by MLB’s system. Either Rushing or Ohtani had the option to challenge it, but they opted not to.

Despite Ohtani managing the situation later, ultimately allowing a leadoff walk, the Pirates quickly capitalized. After a double and a mistake on a fastball aimed at Spencer Horwitz—judged a ball by the ABS—it became a frustrating dilemma.

Ohtani managed to strike out Horwitz, yet the momentum had shifted. “Especially in a close game, you never want to go to the eighth or ninth inning without a challenge from the offense,” Rushing reflected.

Manager Dave Roberts echoed this sentiment, noting, “That might have given us pause a little bit.”

When Brandon Lowe came up next, Rushing hesitated during two pitches that could have warranted a challenge. A fastball appeared to clip the outside of the plate, and the follow-up seemed close as well. Ohtani, aware of the need to act, initially looked as though he might take a risk, but Rushing shook his head.

“It’s basically a catcher’s call, so I don’t do it unless I’m really confident,” Ohtani commented.

In hindsight, he added, “Given the circumstances, I think it might have been a good thing to do.”

Instead, with a 3-0 count, Ohtani threw a fastball that Lowe hit for a double, changing the course of the game.

That led to a quick turnaround for the Pirates, who began to rally, with Lowe scoring on a Max Muncy error before Callihan and Horwitz homered in the eighth to close the gap significantly.

Roberts expressed frustration, saying, “I’ve never looked back, but I heard some of the pitches to Rowe were strikes. They obviously would have flipped the count. Who knows?”

Rushing, visibly disappointed, contemplated whether he should have challenged earlier pitches, admitting, “Maybe one of the two pitches might be worth a shot.”

He explained that various factors influence such decisions, including the game’s score and inning leverage. “Is it necessary?” he mused about conserving challenges late in the game.

Yet he recognized the situation they faced: “It’s clear we should have held it.”

Roberts positively acknowledged Rushing’s growth with the ABS system, highlighting that he’s improved in recent games. Early season struggles had led to more challenges, but Rushing has since enhanced his approach thanks to targeted training.

“Maybe in his opinion it wasn’t worth trying,” Roberts remarked. “It’s not an exact science.”

Another complicating factor was that Rushing caught Ohtani for the first time this season, making it a learning experience as Will Smith dealt with a neck injury.

In the end, despite the missed chances, there was a sense of camaraderie as Ohtani patted Rushing on the back, suggesting that both had learned something valuable from the game.