Los Angeles Angels slugger Shohei Ohtani, 29,토토사이트 has restarted his home run factory. His four-homer performance helped the Angels salvage a win that could have been derailed by a costly error.
Ohtani started in the No. 2 spot in the lineup against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Angels Stadium in Anaheim, California, USA, on 24 June. He went 1-for-3 with one home run, one RBI, one walk and two runs scored, keeping his season average at .302.
Ohtani hit a home run in his first at-bat. With his team trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning, he took a seven-pitch cutter from opposing starter Mitch Keller for a solo home run (his 36th of the season) over the centre field wall. The bullet-like shot took a 19-degree launch angle and travelled 410 feet (about 124.9 metres) at a speed of 112.9 miles (181.6 kilometres) per hour. It was his first home run in five games since April 18 against the New York Yankees.
In his second at-bat, a leadoff single in the third inning, he struck out swinging. Later in the inning, with the bases loaded, he drew a walk and stole second base. She then scored on a single by teammate Taylor Ward. In her final at-bat, with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, she struck out swinging again with the bases loaded.
Shohei Ohtani hit his 36th home run of the season.
The teams traded runs in the first inning. The Angels fell behind 1-0 in the top of the first when starter Tyler Anderson gave up a solo shot to Brian Reynolds. One inning later, Ohtani tied the game at 1-1 with a solo home run.
The Angels added a run in the bottom of the second. After a Marcus Moustakas double and a Matt Tice single put runners on first and third, Eduardo Escobar hit an RBI single to make it 2-1.
In the bottom of the fifth, the big inning was complete. Leadoff hitter Andrew Velasquez and Luis Renjifo hit back-to-back home runs to make it 4-1. Ward’s RBI single with runners on first and third made it 5-1, and Tice’s sacrifice fly with runners on first and third made it 6-1.
The Angels responded with a home run by Velasquez.
Two batters later in the sixth inning, Renfroe hit another solo shot to make it 7-1.
Later in the game, the Angels were in trouble. In the top of the seventh, Leover Peguero hit a two-run double with the bases loaded to cut the deficit to 7-2.
It was a ridiculous moment. It was an unforgivable error on the world’s greatest stage, the Major Leagues. On a pitch from reliever Jacob Webb, catcher Tice threw the ball back to the pitcher, and Webb didn’t get a good handle on it. The ball rolled behind him and into the infield, allowing the runner from third to score and make it 7-3.
It was an odd moment. After giving up an unnecessary run, the Angels gave up a two-run double to Carlos Santana with runners on first and second to cut the lead to 7-5. However, the bullpen pitched a solid inning to preserve the win.
Ohtani (left) and Ren Hippo celebrate.
For the Angels, Anderson improved to 5-2 on the season, allowing four runs on eight hits (one home run) in six innings with one walk and five strikeouts. At the plate, Renfroe hit two home runs and Ward had a multi-hit game to spark the offence.
Pittsburgh, on the other hand, got a rough outing from Keller, who gave up six runs on nine hits (three home runs) with one walk and seven strikeouts in five innings. It was his sixth loss of the season. At the plate, Reynolds and Santana had multi-hit games, but were overshadowed by the loss.
Meanwhile, Pittsburgh infielder Ji-Man Choi missed the game.