5/22/23 RB:
Ladies and gentlemen, what a thrilling performance we witnessed at Angel Stadium today! Shohei Ohtani once again showcased his incredible talent, striking out nine batters in six impressive innings. It’s no surprise that the Los Angeles Angels have immense confidence whenever Ohtani takes the mound.
Despite Ohtani’s exceptional outing, he did not earn a decision, as he allowed just one run and two hits. This season, the two-way superstar has recorded nine or more strikeouts in an impressive four out of his ten starts. Ohtani’s ability to keep the Angels in games and secure leads has been invaluable for the team.
The Angels improved to an impressive 8-2 record when Ohtani starts, and they clinched a three-game series victory for the first time since early May. Ohtani leads the league with a remarkable .142 opponent batting average and ranks third in strikeouts with 80.
In today’s game against the Minnesota Twins, it was Mickey Moniak who played the hero’s role once again. After his tying triple on Friday night, Moniak delivered a crucial two-run double in the seventh inning, giving the Angels a 3-1 advantage. Pinch-hitter Matt Thaiss and Zach Neto set the stage for Moniak with a leadoff walk and a double, respectively.
The Twins’ Carlos Correa drove in their first run of the game with an RBI double in the third inning, bringing Joey Gallo home after a walk. The Angels responded in the fourth inning when Hunter Renfroe and Jared Walsh hit consecutive singles, followed by Gio Urshela’s sacrifice fly to even the score.
Minnesota showed resilience throughout their road trip against the Dodgers and the Angels, remaining competitive in every game. However, all of their losses came in the late innings, making it a bitter pill to swallow for Twins manager Rocco Baldelli.
As for Ohtani, today’s performance was a return to form reminiscent of his early-season dominance. He started the season strong, allowing just two earned runs and eight hits in his first five starts. Despite some recent struggles, Ohtani focused on controlling home runs and keeping batters off balance.
Looking ahead, the Angels will send Jaime Barria to the mound in the opening game of a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox. Barria, with a 1.96 ERA, will be making his first start of the season after primarily appearing out of the bullpen.
In LA pro baseball crosstown rival’s news, the Diamondbacks are creeping up on the Dodgers while the Angels hold on to 3rd and battle to stay over .500 for the season.
That wraps up another exciting day of Angels baseball! This is “Ice” Berg signing off from Angel Stadium. Stay tuned for more incredible action ahead!
