Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim) earned his manager’s applause for playing his best.
Ohtani went 3-for-4 with one home run, one RBI, and one run scored while batting second in the lineup against the Texas Rangers on Sunday at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The team won 2-0, snapping a two-game losing streak.
Ohtani’s homer, his first in three games, was his 42nd of the season. That puts him one behind Major League Baseball’s all-time home run leader Matt Olson (43).
Ohtani’s season batting average increased slightly to .306 from .302.
Ohtani came out of the gate with a cannon from his first at-bat. With the bases loaded in the first inning, he took a 95.7 mph fastball from Texas starter John Gray that came in high and cleared the center field fence. The pitch was well out of the strike zone and he took advantage of it, driving it into a solo arch. It was a 437-foot (133-meter) home run with a 109.1-mph (175-kilometer) bat speed.
In his second at-bat, Ohtani’s quick feet shined. He led off the third inning by driving a six-pitch fastball well out of the zone. Third baseman Duran made the catch and threw to first, but Ohtani’s feet were quick. He was out on an infield single. It was Ohtani’s first multi-hit game in about two weeks, since April 4 against Seattle. But Drury singled to center field, leaving him with two outs.
Ohtani stepped to the plate for the third time in the top of the fifth inning with the bases loaded. He hit a 2B1S changeup from Gray, but was thrown out on a fly ball to left field.
Ohtani completed her three-hit performance in the top of the eighth inning in her fourth at-bat. He hit a 103.1 mph sinker from Aroldis Chapman. Ohtani’s throw was deflected to shortstop Seager. Ohtani sprinted and was faster than Seager’s throw. It was an infield hit.
His teammates applauded him for sticking with it. “He’s our best player,” said manager Phil Nevin. When their leader makes a play like that, it brings a different energy to the dugout. It means just as much as a home run scoring runs.”메이저놀이터
“It’s not about winning a team title or an individual title. It’s not about team wins or individual titles, it’s about the things you don’t see that make you the best player in the world.”