Shohei Ohtani expressed anger after a start against the Colorado Rockies, despite not allowing a hit over six innings in the Los Angeles Dodgers win.

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani hit a home run and didn't allow a hit over six innings in a win over the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday in Los Angeles. File Photo by Tannen Maury/UPI UPI

May 28 (UPI) -- Shohei Ohtani expressed anger after a start against the Colorado Rockies, despite not allowing a hit over six innings in the Los Angeles Dodgers win.

Ohtani's ERA escalated from 0.73 to 0.82 with the pristine performance Wednesday in Los Angeles. He threw 56 of his 99 pitches for strikes. Ohtani allowed one run, while issuing seven strikeouts and four walks to improve to 5-2 this season.

"I was just battling the lack of command I had throughout the night," Ohtani told reporters.

Ohtani struck out Rockies center fielder Jake McCarthy on three pitches to start the outing. He issued his first walk in the first inning, but escaped the inning unscathed.

He then swatted his ninth home run of the season to start the bottom of the frame. The 424-foot solo shot came off the third pitch he saw from Rockies starter Tomoyuki Sugano. First baseman Freddie Freeman added to the Dodgers lead with another solo shot two at-bats later.

Ohtani walked another batter in the second inning, which he also escaped without allowing a run. He retired the Rockies in order in the third. Ohtani walked first baseman T.J. Rumfield to start the fourth. He then hit catcher Hunter Goodman with a pitch. Left fielder Troy Johnston hit a grounder in the next exchange, moving Rumfield to third base. The Rockies scored their lone run when utility man Willi Castro plated Rumfield with a ground out in the next at-bat.

Ohtani struck out shortstop Ezequiel Tovar on three pitches to end the inning.

The Dodgers added insurance runs in the fourth and eighth innings. Ohtani went on to issue just one more walk. He was replaced by relief pitcher Will Klein to start the seventh. Klein teamed up with fellow relief pitchers Tanner Scott and Kyle Hurt to allow just one hit over the final three innings. The Dodgers bullpen issued three strikeouts and no walks to close out the Rockies.

"I have to give credit to our defense," Ohtani said. "They set the tone. The command was off. I just felt like I was battling the lack of it and frustration."

Freeman and outfielder Andy Pages each went 2 for 4 with a home run. Catcher Will Smith reached base three times, with a hit and two walks.

Right fielder Tyler Freeman was the only Rockies player to record a hit -- a single off Scott in the eighth. Sugano allowed six hits and three runs over 4 2/3 innings to drop to 4-4 this season.

The Dodgers (36-20) are now on a five-game winning streak, including the three-game sweep of the Rockies. They sit in first place in the National League West, with a 4.5 game lead on the second-place Arizona Diamondbacks (31-24) and San Diego Padres (31-24). The MLB-worst Rockies (20-37) sit in last place, 16.5 games behind the division-leading Dodgers.

The Dodgers will host the Philadelphia Phillies (29-27) at 10:15 p.m. EDT Friday at Dodger Stadium. The Phillies are in second place in the National League East, eight games behind the division-leading Atlanta Braves, who own MLB's best record (37-19).