The Los Angeles Angels' two-way superstar was on a tear this past week. Of course, just hours after I documented the legendary week he had in the latest version of "This Week in Shohei Ohtani" on "Flippin' Bats," Ohtani continued to make history.
Ohtani put up a performance for the ages against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday. He started the game and gave up just one run on four hits, two walks and 10 strikeouts in 6 ⅓ innings, and that was on top of hitting two home runs in the Angels' 4-2 win. He became the first American League player to strike out 10 hitters and hit two home runs in a game since 1963!
Ohtani, who leads the majors with 28 home runs, hit solo shots in the first and seventh innings, the first time he has gone deep twice while also pitching. The second blast came after he threw 6 1/3 innings, but came out because of a cracked fingernail.
The last AL player before Ohtani to hit at least two homers and strike out at least 10 was Cleveland’s Pedro Ramos on July 31, 1963. That came in the nightcap of a doubleheader against the Angels.
After the game, Angels sideline reporter Erica Weston asked the ace-slugger (through his interpreter) how he felt about his pitching performance. As the home fans who’d stayed in the stands chanted “M-V-P,” Ohtani considered the question. “I wish I could have finished that seventh inning,” he said.
Now, Ohtani did struggle a bit recently on the mound after a great first month of the season when he was on a Cy Young pace. He was 1-1 with a 4.06 ERA in May and gave up nine earned runs in 17 innings pitched through his first three starts of June.
Eloy Jimenez had three hits for the White Sox, who have dropped four of six. Gavin Sheets had an RBI single in the seventh inning.
Ohtani drove a 95 mph fastball from Michael Kopech (3-7) in the first 418 feet into the elevated stands in right-center. It was the ninth time in his career and fourth time this season he homered while also on the mound.
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