In yet another display of his unparalleled talent, Shohei Ohtani once again showcased why he stands apart from his peers. As the sole pitcher in Major League Baseball who excels at the plate, Ohtani’s extraordinary abilities were on full display during the game against the Mariners on Friday night. Despite not delivering his best performance on the mound, surrendering three runs over five innings in a no-decision, Ohtani’s elite hitting skills shone through as he went 3-for-4, including a two-run homer and a double, contributing to the Angels’ 5-4 victory at Angel Stadium.
Commanding the Mound and the Plate
This marked the fourth occasion this season that Ohtani achieved a three-hit game while starting as a pitcher, surpassing the record set by Hall of Famer Warren Spahn with the 1958 Milwaukee Braves, who accomplished this feat five times. Angels manager Phil Nevin praised Ohtani’s contribution, stating, “I thought he was great. His two-run home run put us right back in the game. So a really impressive night. I know his pitch count got up there and that’s why he only got through five, but he gave us a chance to win, and that’s all you can ask for.”
Remarkably, this was also the third time this season that Ohtani fell just one hit short of completing the cycle while simultaneously serving as the starting pitcher. No player in the history of the National League or American League has ever achieved this rare combination of pitching and hitting milestones in a single game.
Overcoming Challenges and Making an Impact
Ohtani, benefitting from an extra day of rest for the first time this season, faced initial command struggles. He walked the leadoff hitter on five pitches and subsequently gave up a two-run homer to Jarred Kelenic on an 0-1 sweeper that found the middle of the plate. However, Ohtani swiftly regained his composure and redeemed himself by launching a home run of his own in the third inning off Mariners ace Luis Castillo. Expressing his satisfaction with his performance at the plate, Ohtani stated, “I’m feeling really good at the plate right now, and more than that, I’m just happy the team won.”
Looking Ahead
With Ohtani’s contributions and Mickey Moniak’s two-run blast off Castillo in the sixth inning, the Angels secured their ninth win in Ohtani’s starts this season and extended their winning streak to five games. Reflecting on the victory, Moniak remarked, “That’s a good pitcher over there, and to score five runs against him is huge and the kind of stuff we’re going to have to do going forward to win games.” Ohtani’s extraordinary dual dominance continues to captivate fans and defy conventions in the world of baseball.
