The AL East is tough this year, all 5 teams are over .500 and Baltimore is not in last. What used to be a soft part of the schedule is difficult again. But perhaps there is hope. After all, Ohtani is starting today, and Mike Trout has fond memories here.
Ohtani went 7 innings, giving up 5 runs on 4 hits, striking out 5 and walking 2. At the plate he went 4-5 with a walk and a 3 run home run. He was a double short of the cycle, but still an excellent tome at the plate. A better hitter than pitcher today, as Ohtani’s struggles on the mound continue.
Angels bats even outside of Ohtani saved this game from being a big L. Basically everyone got in on the action, although leftys had a big advantage. Lots of highlights today as a slugfest of a game this afternoon in Baltimore.
Highlighted Recap
With Chad Wallach back, but Rendon out, the infield is a bit thin, so Thaiss was put at first. How hard can it be? Well, apparently Thaiss doesn’t think it is hard as he made a great play to start the game.
Angels scored first with a Neto sac fly in the 2nd.
That was erased by a home run by Baltimore off Ohtani in the bottom of the inning.
However, the Angels got those back in the 3rd with a 2 out double by Gio, causing Thaiss to tumble into home.
And Ohtani gave up another home run in the 3rd.
Chad had Ohtani’s back, however, and tied the game up.
Ohtani bailed out Ohtani with a 3 run jimmy jack to give the Angels the lead!
Thaiss added on with a double of his own.
In the 5th, after an Ohtani triple, Renfroe drove him in with a double.
Sadly, Ohtani cannot keep it in the yard as he gave up yet another home run.
Devenski got through the 8th without giving up a run, and Moore shut the door. Angels win!
Upcoming
The Angels are now 22-20. Another 3:30 game tomorrow, with Silseth on the mound. Maybe pitching will be at the game tomorrow. Light that baby up!
Shohei sure hit that ball far for being an offshores pitch. Impressive. The ball sounds so different off his bat than other hitters.
“offspeed” Don’t you just hate the autocorrect feature? 😅
With his bottled up anger Shohei was trying to hit the ball into the harbor over a 1/2 mile away . He can do it.
Some excerpts from Q&A session of Shohei Ohtani with Japanese media (Loose translation):
Regarding his sweepers which have been hit hard in the last four games, he noted several mechanical issues that he feels he can rectify before his next turn.
Was told that Phil Nevin thought that Shohei hit that 3 run homerun with tremendous anger after giving up the second homer to allow Orioles second comeback, he answered he just relaxed and happened to put a good swing on a pitch that was in the zone.
Was he happy when Trout worked the count to get a walk in the 9th inning (to give Shohei another chance for the cycle), he answered he was grateful to Trout with a smile. He also noted and was thankful for the cheers even from Orioles fans to encourage him to complete the cycle. He was thinking an extra base hit for the two last at bats, but after two strikes, he just concentrated on meeting the ball and putting it in play.
Was asked whether his neck was hurting, he admitted that he had slight tightness in his neck from the third inning on. He denied that the discomfort had anything to do with his poor pitching today. He was glad that he was able to pitch 7 innings to help his team secure a win.
Was told that he was the first pitcher since 1964 (Mel Stuttlemyre, Yankees) to be on base 5 times as a pitcher, Shohei merely stated the number of MLB players who have opportunity to accomplish such record is limited, so he didn’t think that it was a huge deal for him. (I think he is pretty tired of being asked of his opinion every time he does something that only two way player has opportunities to realize) His concern was more to do with the way he pitched in earlier part of the game, definitely not how many he hit safely today as a starting pitcher.
9-5, not hours worked, but the score with the Angels in the lead, does not seem safe to me as long as we don’t have a trusted Bullpen. But that’s just me. 🙃
I believe we have about 1/2 of a trusted bullpen. Unfortunately riding only on that half will soon turn it into zero
Everybody’s boy wonder Marsh-a crashing back to earth, > 35% strikeout rate. Let’s put away those HOF ballots for now.
Pitchers make adjustments, and the good hitters counter. Marsh is a very good player, and I’m rooting for him to figure out the mechanics to the strikeouts.
BTW thanks to JHW and the other contributors for the content. The post game wrap is one stop shop for me with the relevant video links.
Absolutely, they are much appreciated….!
Well, we won.
Imagine how fierce our rage would be had we lost.
Makes ya think.
Thaiss and Wallach really deserve kudos today for their offense and defense even though the player of the game went to Shohei. Shohei as a pitcher had a lot to be desired, but a good pitcher wins even when he does not have the best set of effective pitches. The Angels collectively played error-free defense, and I do not recall any mental mistake.
That’s the thing. No pitcher totally lost the plot, no defense totally blew it, we manage to win kinda ugly.
The plot? Shohei is now a farmer or a mystery novel writer?
He’s talking about an MLB Arms Race conspiracy plot, an attempt at sabotaging our bullpen.Tepera was a possible spy, it’s why we released him.
But How do we know that Tepera wasn’t just a decoy. There must be others in our midst. Thats the only way to explain almost 15 seasons without a playoff win.
Network of spying…. Joe Blanton. Spy. Steve Cishek definitely a spy.
The name is Blanton…. Joe Blanton. 😂 😂 😂
I’m convinced the conspiracy also includes a 60 acre beet farm near Scranton Pennsylvania…….
So we’ve turned the assistant to the regional manager? This is big news.
Were Ohtani’s homers off of breaking balls not breaking? Anyway, he’ll figure it out. He still pitched 7 innings.
Much needed Win, obviously. Repeat after me, “series win” “series win” “series win”,
Now I’ll shout to the baseball Gods yet again – Let’s give Trout a couple of weeks at leadoff to see what happens.zzz
I saw the score and thought maybe Tepera was back on the roster……
winning is nice.
I hear it is called post traumatic stress disorder, which has lately afflicted many of us including myself. Some of you pointed out to me today that I was still thinking Angels were playing in Cleveland. But, I heard winning is considered curative of such ailment. Thank Baseball God.
😄
Nice to get Wally back.
Is it official now? Thiass is niass and his bat is made of iass!
And his favorite show is Miami Viass.
I am aware it is still early in the season, but it makes me happy to announce that Atlanta is currently demolishing Texas Rangers while Houston is tied with Cubs in the 5th inning.
Early in both of those games.
I remember when Texas had no roof on their 40000-person barn we used to long for when they would “wilt in the Texas heat down the stretch” … it usually didn’t happen
I think it happened once. So then we always expected it to happen.
Can someone let Mark Langston know that the word “groin” has ONE SYLLABLE?
“GROW-ween” he says. Good god.
Inju-wury?
Is that how he says Drury?
Is it Wabbit Season?
sometimes I think balls might be juiced (or not) for a particular game. A funny batch of ’em.
Either that or the players
It’s funny how he still pretends he can’t understand English during the interviews.
Ippei needs a Job.
Life debt of some sort. He saved Shohei from a dragon one time
I thought he walked Shohei’s mom across the street when he was 5yrs old
One of these times he going to answer Erica before Ippei translates.
he has in the past . I believe he did a couple times during his WBC interviews.
I thought it was because he was the only one that wasn’t on tape delay.
At lest he waited for Ippei to finish the translation tonight. Most of the time he answers midway through the translation.
I suspect he doesn’t like to speak English in public but is quite fluent.
Won first game of series oh gnoh.
We’ve fallen into the trap again
Speaking of traps did you see how well the Cardinals have been playing since we left town? They’re 7-3 in their last 10 including sweeping the Red Sox this weekend while drubbing the Brew Crew tonight 18-1.
I have noticed that the Cardinals have righted their ship lately. Arenado has found his bat in Fenway Park, and Cardinals pitchers have performed well. Angels were fortunate to have played Cardinals when they played. Alternatively the Red Sox are now in a tailspin, losing 10-1 to the Mariners. If Red Sox do not turn this around, Alex Cora may find himself unemployed by the end of May.
Well guess who’s coming to Anaheim next week?
Once again we’ll probably be just the Panacea the stricken Chowds need.
Let’s break that pattern this time tomorrow.
Really glad to see the offense supported Ohtani tonight. Or he supported himself!
Suarez could’ve won with that run support
Ouch. Add a 10-spot and MAYBE
I am hoping that Silseth pitches well tomorrow so we can either DFA Suarez or move him to bullpen. I have a feeling that Minasian will choose the latter. You do not want another team especially one in your division to select him and turn him into Cy Suarez.
Not if we 7 innings…..
Not in this ball park.
And the team did all they could so he gets that one last AB in the 9th to complete the cycle. Extra hitter in the 8th, extra hitter in the 9th.
LTBU!
