It was the first game after a two-hitter that even manager Phil Nevin (52) felt bad about. A tired Shohei Ohtani (29-LA Angels) got his hitting streak going again after a sweet day off. However, the team lost again, taking another step away from autumn baseball.
바카라Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a walk and two strikeouts while batting second and designating hitter in the Angels’ 2023 Major League Baseball (ML) opener against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas, USA, on 12 September. Ohtani, who has reached base in five straight games dating back to the Seattle Mariners on 7 July, saw his season batting average drop from 0.306 to 0.305 and his OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) drop from 1.076 to 1.071.
The game was highlighted by the matchup between Ohtani and reigning Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander, 40, who returned to Houston after a seven-month absence. The game itself was won by Verlander, who held Ohtani to just one hit over six innings, allowing three runs on six hits (one homer) with seven strikeouts and no walks to ear n his seventh win of the season. Verlander picked up his first win in his first Minute Maid Park start since returning to Houston.
It was hard to blame Ohtani, who started two days earlier (10 October) against the San Francisco Giants. He minimised his trademark 100-mile-per-hour fastball, and even called his catcher and manager to the mound in the first inning. However, his six innings of one-run (zero earned) quality starts led to the team’s victory, and his manager said after the game, “Ohtani is tired right now. He’s been out there for 16 games in 16 days without a break. He told me in the sixth inning that he was tired, but he persevered and pitched a perfect inning.”
However, the Angels fell to a 3-11 defeat as starter Reed Detmers was tagged for seven runs on seven hits (two homers) and three walks in 2 1/3 innings, and the offence combined for five hits without Ohtani. The Angels dropped another five games to 58-59 and remained in fourth place in the American League West, far from fall baseball.
With Ohtani silenced, Houston explodes for 10 runs… Shohei Ohtani finally gets a hit off the bat of Verlander, extending his hitting streak to five games.
Shohei Ohtani bats during the Angels’ game against Houston on Wednesday./AFPBBNews=News1
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Reed Detmers. /AFPBBNews=news1
Houston’s John Singleton stares at the plate after hitting a home run during a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday./AFPBBNews=news1
Ohtani hit a changeup outside from Verlander in the top of the first inning and retired on a grounder to second. In the top of the third, he started the inning with a favourable 2B0S count, but swung and missed on a slider-fastball combination.
While Ohtani was silent, the Angels’ mound was bombarded. In the bottom of the second inning, with Houston trailing 1-0, leadoff hitter Yoenis Diaz singled, Mauricio Dubon walked, and John Singleton followed with a towering triple to make it 3-1. Jeremy Peña then singled, Martin Maldonado doubled, and Jose Altuve walked to load the bases. Groundouts by Alex Bregman and Jordan Alvarez put two runners on base.
Singleton homered in the next at-bat. In the third inning, with runners on first and second, Singleton hit another two-run shot. With runners on first and third in the fourth, Peña doubled to left field and Maldonado followed with a single to left to make it 10-2.
The Angels responded with a C.J. Cron solo shot to left-centre field in the second and an RBI single by Luis Lengipo in the third.
One of the Angels’ few comeback chances of the day came off the bat of Ohtani. In the sixth inning, Lenhippo led off with a walk and Ohtani followed with a 93.9 mph fastball up the middle. The Angels got a run back when Brandon Drury lined a single to left and Ohtani advanced to second, but the next three batters were retired to end the threat.
Houston added a run in the bottom of the eighth on an infield single by Altuve with the bases loaded to seal the 11-3 victory. It was a big day at the plate for Houston’s bottom of the order. No. 7 Singleton went 4-for-3 with two home runs, five RBIs, three runs scored and one walk, No. 8 Peña went 4-for-3 with a home run, one RBI, one walk and two runs scored, and No. 9 Maldonado went 5-for-3 with a home run, two RBIs and one run scored to combine for nine hits and eight RBIs in Houston’s big win.
12 August LA Angels-Houston Astros Starting Lineup
Los Angeles Angels: Luis Lengipo (shortstop) – Shohei Ohtani (designated hitter) – Brandon Drury (second base) – Mike Moustakas (third base) – C.J. Cron (first base) – Mickey Moniak (centre field) – Hunter Renfroe (right field) – Randal Grichuk (left field) – Chad Wallach (catcher). Reed Detmers will start.
Houston Astros: Jose Altuve (second base)-Alex Bregman (third base)-Jordan Alvarez (left field)-Kyle Tucker (right field)-Yanier Diaz (designated hitter)-Mauricio Dubon (centre field)-John Singleton (first base)-Jeremy Peña (shortstop)-Martin Maldonado (catcher). Starter Justin Verlander.