Los Angeles Angels star Shuhei Ohtani hit 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings in a win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night and added two runs. Here’s what you need to know:
- Ohtani became the first American League player to hit two home runs and hit 10 or more hits in a single game Since Pedro Ramos in 1963.
- It was Ohtani’s first career game with a 10+ hit and a homer, and the first time Ohtani hit two home runs in a game he also participated in.
- The Angels defeated the White Sox 4-2 and improved to 44-37 on the season. Los Angeles is second in the American League West, while Chicago (34-47) is fourth in the American League Central.
background story
Ohtani, a three-time MLB All-Star, was removed from Tuesday’s game as a pitcher in the seventh inning with a cracked nail. He still hit a second-inning home run in the seventh off Touki Toussaint on his next bunt. It came after a homer on first off White Sox pitcher Michael Kopech.
In the month of June alone, Ohtani hit 13 home runs and 37 strikeouts. Leads the league with 28 tackles this season.
How was ohtani settled in june
Otani had been dealing with a cracked nail since before the game even started. It obviously got worse and affected the drive with his fast pitches in that seventh inning. But it’s baffling to think he hit 10 hits and dominated the White Sox lineup in this condition. Not to mention hitting two home runs. There have been periods when Otani has been elite in hitting (2021) and elite in pitching (2022). Last month showed he might have some runway to excel at both at the same time in a way we haven’t seen yet at the major league level. – bloom
Ohtani modifications and what’s next
Otani’s command was a real problem for about eight starts. In that span, he allowed three or more runs in six outings, culminating in a five-walk in five innings against the Mariners. He didn’t look like Cy Young the pitcher we were used to seeing him last year. In the three starts since then, he has pitched 19 1/3 innings, allowing only four runs and four walks. Angels manager Phil Niven and Otani both pointed out some mechanical tweaks, but didn’t offer many details. Whatever the changes, it’s clearly working. And it never affected his offense. He finished the first half of the season with a career high of 56 home runs. Maybe he’ll run Aaron Judge’s MLS home run record. – bloom
what are they saying
Otani acknowledged the “MVP” chants that broke out at Angel Stadium.
“Something similar happened in 2021,” he said after the game. “It always feels good to hear that from the fans and it gives me a lot of motivation to do even better.”
Niven called Ohtani’s performance a “wow” factor.
“I think the cool thing is watching new guys come in like (Mike Moustakas) and (Eduardo Escobar) and they see this, they’re stunned. And so are we all,” Nevin said. “But first time seeing it. Today’s performance was amazing.”
Game highlights
Key stats
With Tuesday’s performance, Ohtani became the first player in MLB history to hit more than 10 home runs and strike out more than 35 batters in one month. Babe Ruth was the only other player to have a 10-hour month and 35-month strikeout at any time in his career, whether in the same month or not, according to OptaStats.
required reading
(Photo: Harry How/Getty Images)
