Ohtani hits 2 homers, goes 4 for 5, Angels top Indians 7-4
CLEVELAND — Shohei Ohtani hit two home runs in a game for the first time in the major leagues, and the Los Angeles Angels defeated the Cleveland Indians 7-4 on Friday night.
Ohtani, whose four hits were also the most of his big league career, singled in the eighth and scored the go-ahead run on David Fletcher’s double.
The Angels won at Progressive Field for the first time since June 17, 2014, breaking a 10-game skid.
Ohtani also hit his first home run on the road and has 11 in his rookie season. The Japanese two-way star has homered four times and is batting .643 (9 for 14) against the Indians in four games this season. Ohtani was sidelined from June 7-July 2 with a sprained ligament in his right elbow.
Ohtani, starting for the first time since Tuesday, took a 5-for37 slump into the game. He hit a two-run homer in the first and a solo home run in the third off Mike Clevinger.
Angels star Mike Trout missed his second straight game because of a bruised right wrist but hopes to return Saturday.
Justin Anderson (3-2) pitched the seventh and the Angels’ bullpen held the Indians to one run over the final four innings.
Andrew Miller, making his first appearance since May 26, struck out one and walked a batter in a scoreless seventh. The left-hander was activated from the disabled list after missing two months with right knee inflammation.
Miller’s return was overshadowed by continued problems for Cleveland’s bullpen, which allowed four runs in the eighth to break a 3-all tie.
Ohtani started the rally with a one-out single off Oliver Perez (0-1). He stole second and Albert Pujols was intentionally walked with a 3-0 count.
Andrelton Simmons hit into a force play, but Fletcher’s flyball landed near the right field line and bounced into the stands for a ground-rule double.
Jose Brienco’s infield hit off Adam Cimber scored a run and Eric Young Jr. added a two-run double.
Ohtani hit an 0-1 pitch into the bleachers in left field in the first. Cleveland quickly tied it in on Michael Brantley’s RBI double and Jose Ramirez’s run-scoring single.
Ohtani launched a 3-2 pitch an estimated 443 feet to right for his second homer.
Leonys Martin, playing his first home game since being acquired from Detroit at the trade deadline, homered and had two RBIs.