Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani activated his home run machine after two games.
Ohtani started in the No. 3 spot in the lineup and went 1-for-4 with a home run and one RBI in the Angels’ 2023 Major League Baseball (MLB) home opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Angels Stadium in Anaheim, California, USA, on Wednesday.
Atoning for a no-hitter the previous day, Ohtani’s 31st home run of the season gave him the major league lead in home runs, extending his lead over second-place Matt Olson (Atlanta Braves) to three. His season batting average is now .306, unchanged from the previous day.
After striking out and walking in his first three at-bats, Ohtani was silent for seven consecutive at-bats, including Game 2, but it took him just eight at-bats to make his presence felt.
In the bottom of the eighth inning with his team leading 4-2, Ohtani pulled a four-pitch slider straight down the middle of the plate against Arizona left-hander Kyle Nelson for a huge solo arch. Ohtani didn’t miss a beat on the throw to center field.
Again, the numbers were so staggering that everyone knew it was a home run the moment it hit the ground. The ball was hit at a whopping 115.4 miles per hour (186 kilometers per hour) and measured at 454 feet (138 meters). It was literally “Ohtani” at the plate.
Ohtani’s solo shot put the Angels ahead for good late in the game, and they went on to beat Arizona 5-2, avenging the previous day’s loss and improving to 45-41 (.523) on the season.
Starter Reed Detmers earned his second win of the season with six innings of three-hit ball (one homer), two walks and nine strikeouts, while closer Carlos Estevez picked up his 21st save of the season. At the plate, Mike Trout and Mickey Moniak joined Ohtani with back-to-back home runs.카지노
On the other hand, Arizona’s “ace” Zach Galen, who reached the 10-win plateau before July even arrived, was unable to avoid the loss, allowing four runs on five hits (two homers) and one walk in seven innings with 12 strikeouts.