The LA Angels have become a team that can beat even the ‘overwhelming’ last place team in Major League Baseball (ML) as long as they avoid Shohei Ohtani (29). In fact, it was a bittersweet situation for the LA Angels, who failed to advance to the postseason for 9 consecutive years.
Ohtani started as number 2 and designated hitter in the 2023 Major League away game against the Oakland Athletics held at the Coliseum Stadium in Oakland, California, USA on the 3rd (Korean time) and recorded no hits and three walks in two at-bats. As a result, the season batting average went down from 0.307 to 0.306 and the on-base percentage rose from 0.411 to 0.413.
It was a bitter game for both the LA Angels and Ohtani. Ohtani didn’t even get a chance to produce results. He walked and got on base in the first inning with no outs and no outs on first base. Following Mike Moustakas’ single, the Los Angeles Angels took the lead with Luis Lenhipo’s sacrifice fly and 1 RBI, but Ohtani was unable to hit home due to a missed follow-up hit.스포츠토토
Ohtani, who was retired by a ground ball to shortstop in the third inning, began to be checked in earnest when Oakland took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning on a two-run shot by Brent Rooker to left-center. In the top of the 5th inning, leadoff hitter Kyren Paris reached base with a heavy hit. He also succeeded in stealing second base, and a meal was prepared in front of Ohtani with one out and two bases on base. However, the Oakland Battery excluded Ohtani on an intentional throw and forced a double play by Brandon Drury, ending the inning scoreless.
There was no hesitation in replacing the pitcher. In the top of the 7th inning, when Oakland was still ahead 2-1, Paris and Chanuel took consecutive walks, creating opportunities for runners on 1st and 2nd with one out. Oakland then changed the mound from right-hander Spencer Patton to left-hander Sam Long, and Long successfully completed the task by setting Ohtani back with a fly ball to shortstop after two pitches.
In a frustrating game in which neither team scored, Ohtani did not even get a chance to make the final at-bat. In the top of the 9th inning, with Oakland leading 2-1, pinch hitter Michael Stefanik reached base on a walk for the Los Angeles Angels. Paris made a sacrifice bunt, Chanuel advanced Stefanik to third base with a ground ball, and Ohtani came to the plate.
However, the Oakland Battery once again skipped Ohtani and dealt a fly ball to center field against Drury, securing a 2-1 victory. Oakland starter Blackburn posted his 4th win (4th loss) of the season with 4 hits, 3 walks, 4 strikeouts, and 1 run in 5 innings, and LA Angels starter Griffin Canning lost his 5th loss of the season despite pitching 6 innings, 4 hits (1 home run), no walks, 7 strikeouts, and 2 runs allowed. (7 wins) Ohtani added two intentional throws and ranked first in the major league in that category.
Meanwhile, Oakland, which secured the winning series against the LA Angels with two consecutive wins, posted its 41st win (95 losses) of the season, but was still ranked last among the 30 major league teams. The LA Angels also ranked 4th in the American League West Division with 64 wins and 72 losses.