Shohei Ohtani started game 1 of this doubleheader reinvigorated. The Angels have decided to go all in, and he will be getting new pitching buddies. With this uncertainty of what his future of the next few months over, he focused on pithing his best.
Ohtani went 9 innings, giving up no runs on 1 hit, striking out 8 and walking 3. Yes, that is a CGSO. The Ace was back, and sure, it was Detroit, but it was just the team that almost outslugged the Angels on Tuesday. Every win matters, and securing game 1 is huge. Especially since it keeps the bullpen rested.
This was able to happen due to his teammates. Getting run support is vital no matter the starter. Cabbage and Ward were the ones who decided to do it today, getting 6 RBI between them. This notion of do it all yourself doesn’t work in team sports, and that Ohtani had two teammates do it today was huge.
Game 1 Highlighted Recap
Cabbage hit a sac fly in the 2nd to start the scoring.
Cabbage then hit in 2 more in the 4th.
Then, in the 6th, Taylor “Blake” Ward sent one out for a 2 run blast.
And he decided to do it again with a solo home run this time in the 8th.
Upcoming
After winning game 1, the Angels now can sweep Detroit. Game 2 is at 1:40 PM today, With Sandy vs Manning. Come back to see the Game 2 postgame right here.
Game 2
Patrick Sandoval had the task of sweeping the Tigers. Can he do it? Well, he went 5 innings, giving up 2 runs on 5 hits, striking out 4 and walking 2. Not the start that he had last time, or anywhere close what Ohtani did this morning, but it would do.
What for sure can be done is a 3rd straight game of good run support as the Angels blitzed the Tigers in the 2nd. And then kept adding on all day. Ohtani got 2 home runs, Rengifo did well, and even Renfroe got in on the action. A sweep of the Tigers was oh so sweet.
Highlighted Recap
The scoring started in the 2nd, again, this time thanks to a Rengifo 2 run triple!
Neto then blooped in a 3rd run of the inning.
Since he now doesn’t have to think about pitching, Shohei hit a 2 run oppo taco because he can.
The Tigers finally scored in the 3rd, with a groundout.
Another run would come across in the inning.
The Angels would get a run back in the 4th with an Escobar bomb off the foul pole.
Oh, and Ohtani wanted another home run so he hit one.
Hunter Renfroe then added one of his own in the 6th.
While Neto has been doing well all game. That is until he booted a ball in the 7th to allow a run to score.
Tigers get another in the 8th, but Rengifo keeps it from getting worse.
Things were getting close, so it was a relief that Thaiss was able to knock in 2 more in the 9th.
And Renfroe added another because why not?
Angels win, sweeping Detroit!
Upcoming
The Angels face the Blue Jays next with new Angel starter Lucas Giolito on the mound in Toronto. He will look to impress as the Angels are now only 3 games back of a playoff spot. Ohtani was removed for cramps and we hope the medical staff isn’t lying.
Get him back for Griffin Canning Perry. Now you got Ohtani, Giolito, Lorenzen, and Detmers, I’d like our chances against anybody including the Dodgers, Braves, and Astros with that rotation. 💪 💪
Doubt they will, but this Giolito move is Greinke and Haren all over again. Trade for a good pitcher, then choke at the end and miss the playoffs. Keys to the game: “History repeats itself”
友達よ、まだ、あなたには希望がある。
No Sho Trade Before Deadline Magic number is still 1.
Ez pass on Lorenzen
Compilation of some of Ohtani’s pitches:
https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/1684649221926912000
As an aside, I don’t think I’ve noticed how Wallach’s technique is different before.
That was pretty amazing. His command was something else today.
I was just in SD watching past 2 games vs Pirates, they look done, really bad clutch hitting. Angels should offer Adell, Ward and 1st round pick in 24 for Soto who still is under contract next year. Very grateful for moves made so far. Really hoping what triggered this was a private conversation w/ Ohtani and management that validated he seriously considers Angels to have a chance to resign him to an extension after the season.. Even if it’s just a couple more years.
Can teams trade future draft picks?
Nope
Only Comp picks
Soto is a smirking dipshit. He belongs on the mermen with Captain smirking dipshit and all the other smirking dipshits
But that .400 OBP though….
I’m not nearly as down on Ward as most around here are – even when he was struggling. At worst, he’s a solid 4th OF and at best, he’s a legit starter AND he doesn’t break the bank.
I’ve never liked him either and I can’t explain why. I just don’t want him on the Angels.
yes, we have a tough series coming up, against a team ahead of us that’s currently 57-46.
At the same time Boston, 1 1/2 up on us, will be playing SF (56-47). Skanks, a half game ahead of us will play Baltimore (62-40). Directly behind us Seattle will play Arizona (55-48).
If we can go 2-1 vs Toronto we’ll likely gain some at least one other team besides the Bluejays.
Remarkably, if I’m counting right, they are 10-9 thus far in July. I’d be really thrilled if they go 2-2 over the next 4 games. It’s a tall order. That whole 15 wins a month thing would’ve been more like it had they taken care of business in June.
How sweep it is !!!!
Q&A session:
Q: First complete shut out MLB game for you.
A: Since that was the first game of DH, it was timely for the team and for myself.
Q:The Angels are now buyers, and you are essentially confirmed to remain as Angel.
A: My plan was to remain as Angel until the end of this season, anyway. So with the recent message to clear any uncertainty, everyone on the team is now focused to work diligently to reach the playoffs.
Q:How do you like the different attitude that the Angels front office has this year?
A:We have always been sellers since I joined the Angels, so this is the first time I am feeling this way. I would like to communicate well with incoming new members to improve our team further.
Q:Are you grateful to the Angels front office for declaring to be buyers?
A:GM was doing his job last year even though we did not have good winning record. Because of our poor record before deadline, he was forced to release many of our core players last year. I still think that our job as players to do our best to contribute to team’s victory.
Q:With recent Angels trades, is your long term outlook on the Angels different?
A:During season, I try not to pay attention to trade possibilities. I am taking one game at a time. Angels are the team I have played for past 6 seasons, and I really love Angels fans. I promise that I will do my best to reach the playoffs and beyond for them.
Q:What was the difference about today’s pitching as opposed to the recent outings?
A:The finger condition was excellent, and my set up and body movements felt ‘right on time’. However, just because I had one good game, I do not know this would continue. There is no guarantee that I can replicate what I did today at next outing. I will do my best to continue the good trend.
Q:Your fastballs were effective today.
A: I agree. The command in early innings was really good. Because of that, I was on great rhythm. I was also helped by great defense, which turned several double plays on difficult grounders. They helped my pitch count to remain low.
Q:Your complete shut out game today is the first time since 6 years ago when you used to pitch for NPB. Were you feeling exhausted in the 9th inning?
A:I was thinking to pitch one batter at a time, so I was not cognizant of how tired I was. I felt extremely happy that I was able to finish the game.
Q:With acquisition of Lucas Giolito, do you feel the difference in team’s attitude?
A:Since we have been winning many games, we have been in positive attitude. Now that we are buyers and with reinforcements, we are motivated further to achieve the playoff spot and beyond. We just need to maintain this momentum from here on.
Q:What is your reaction to the new acquisitions?
A:The two new pitchers will significantly strengthen our chance of playoff contention in my opinion.
Q:Were you consciously avoiding trade related news?
A:I was not. I thought it was business as usual at this time of season. Similar feelings amongst players existed last year, too. So, players who know that they are trade targets have similar attitude about it.
I now realize that this Q&A session was held right after the first game. So no information on his back issue. If I find further information later, I will update.
This is reassuring.
https://twitter.com/JeffFletcherOCR/status/1684722207262466048
Im curious they didn’t ask him about letting Wallach call the pitches this game.
I suspect Wallach will be also calling the pitches next game.
I still think that they were communicating via PitchCom. I would say it is now 50/50, whereas it used to be 100% Ohtani before. It will be interesting who is going to catch Ohtani at next game. I suspect it will be Wallach until O’Hoppe returns.
Another important factor is that he was 0 for 5 during the first game and did not spend anytime on base. Not spending any of his energy running around the bases, he was able to last 9 innings today. It would be an intriguing discussion to consider not using Ohtani rule when he pitches especially in humid stadium (Midwest/East). Of course, when Nevin asks Ohtani if he would prefer to bat when he pitches, he will say, “Of course, I want to hit.”
We can totally live with Wallach and his robust 0.050 batting average if Shohei pitches like a shut down ace.
I sure hope so.. I think we agree that Shohei is not best served by calling his own pitches… He has a tendency to outsmart himself..
Urshela’s solid hitting and overall play, only to…break his pelvis? Belongs in the Angels all-timer scrapbook under heading “Typical.”
I broke my pelvis………pelvic.
https://youtu.be/GP_0BhCw2rg
Who knows if we ever get fully healthy.. if we do, it’s the best team in baseball. Perry has to get us 2 more high leverage relievers.
DH – Ohtani
C – O’Hoppe
1B – Moose
2B – Drury
SS – Neto
3B – Rendone
LF – Moniak
CF – Trout
RF – Ward
Bench: Thaiss, Renfroe, Rengifo, Escobar
SP: Ohtani, Giolito, Detmers, Canning, Sandoval, Anderson
RP: Estevez, Moore, Lopez, Soriano, Loup, Joyce, Bachman, Devinski
Careful, your optimism could trigger some…back off. Hahaha!
That’s a great lineup
would be better than Atlanta imo. It’s insane
Look out for that Doyers lineup if they get Arenado
That’s my reaction when I thought Trout was batting 8th in that lineup. 😛
And then after the 3 games Rendon plays before injury, we have guys to play 3rd.
Yep. I wouldn’t mind Rendone being ruled out for the season.
Add Cabbage to the bench and slide RenFuego to 3rd.
And somehow Neto will be sent home by Hackelman and have his head dislocated on the tag……out by 12 feet, BTW.
I assume a dislocated head is mildly problematic.
Flesh wound. Just rub some dirt on it and send him back out.
Joyce healthy? His arm is probaby cooked from trying to throw his brains out every pitch. I see him as Carson Smith or Joel Zumaya 2.0
友達よ、まだ、あなたには希望がある。
No Sho Trade Before Deadline Magic number is still 1.
Angels need to get Snell, Soto, and Hader. I think this will complete the team for the playoff run.
Can we get Hader?
At least Snell and Hader. Soto is really pushing it.
Yea, the Padres need that trifecta of swaggering obnoxious machismo (Soto/Machado/Tatis) to keep up the illusion they’re going anywhere. Small market team spends BIG, is 5 games under on July 27th. Losing Soto would ruin that trifecta for them.
Trying to imagine what we would have to give up acquire Snell and Hader.
Then, knowing everyone we traded for, plus, Ohtani would be free agents at the end of the year.
Whoa…
Too much…but after the last 24 hours nothing will surprise me.
I was kind of going for the Bill Hader joke.
isn’t Snell a 5 inning pitcher? Let me check…
21 games, 114 innings. That’s a little more than 5 1/3 innings per outing. His first two starts were duds so let’s throw them out, leaving 19 starts, 106 innings. Still is in that range, a little less than 5 2/3rds.
Of those 19 starts he went 4 once, 5 seven times, 6 ten times and 7 once. He’s pitched well but thrown lots of pitches and we’d be stressing our bullpen. In July he’s pitched 5 times, all of them either 5 or 6 innings, gone over 100 pitches in all but one of those games.
Good analysis
you forgot to carry the 1.
I give Perry a lotta credit. We are missing Trout, Drury, Rendone, O’Hoppe, Urshela (remember him lol?) and this lineup is inferno.
Exciting series with TOR. Gausman vs Giolito will be a battle and we got the bullpen ready to roll.
LTBU !
Starting Catcher, Shortstop, Centerfield, 3rd Base, out for lengthy IL stints and still not out of it? Good on them. Now comes a tough part of the schedule as a few trickle back. Overall I have enjoyed the season… so far
At postgame, Nevin essentially said nothing regarding Sho’s discomfort in the left lower back. I don’t think it is oblique, though. As I said previously, he had the same discomfort in the same area about a week and half ago. I would not be surprised that his name will be on lineup tomorrow.
I am still waiting for Q&A session. So glad that I will get to do them earlier than usual.
I will be surprised if he isn’t.
“The road team traditionally has a difficult time to sweep a doubleheader”
Wow – the Angels did something difficult.
JFK said it best.
Same reasons he snuck Marilyn Monroe into the White House. Because it was hard………I mean difficult. 😀
They did. They definitely beat the odds, and I am happy that I was wrong about that prediction of no sweep…
AND we were able to keep the High Leverage bullpen arms in hibernation mode ready for the Blue Jays.
Amazing.
But we burned Reyes.
😜
Better Reyes than Reynaldo
These next 6 against TOR and ATL are gonna pretty much tell the story. Buckle up!
Seriously. I’m amped…and more than a little nervous.
As someone said, you have to beat good teams to prove that you are good. That is the way I look at it, and yes, I am looking forward to Giolito’s debut as Angel tomorrow.
If we can go 4-2 over the next 6, I will be elated and Minasian and Arte will begin to look like non-idiots.
That’s my realistic ideal, 4-2.
We used to paraphrase Airplane! on Halos Heaven and CtPG, “Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop sniffing glue, ” with our own versions. Due to “real life” exigencies: it’s probably too close to home for maybe one reader here, so I’ll just say I’ve heard some good things about CBD and anxiety?
&red&floyd&
I’m ampersanded!
Got’s to give it to Arte: going on in on Shohei and the season makes a whole lot of horse sense and had to be done – but it is still a gutsy move.
Everything is on the line…..
You just beat me to it ross…Arte has everything to do with the last 24 hours.
Long Live Arte!!
Genius!
Always liked that guy😀
All of us always did!!
I call B/S!!
Cheap Arte is dead! Long live Cheap Arte!
By my calculations… that 2 WAR for Ohtani today
Tungsten Arm O’Doul has nothing on this guy.
Pitching a 1-hitter and then adding to your MLB lead for HRs…that’s pretty good, right?
Nice win. The team is playing with energy. Hopefully it carries over.