Sho Time! Ohtani belts HR

Sho Time is off to a powerful start in Anaheim.

Shohei Ohtani hit his first major-league home run in his first Angel Stadium at-bat, taking a curtain call after his three-run homer Tuesday night in a 13-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians.

Ohtani, who went 3-for-4 with 3 RBI, capped a six-run first inning by lifting a ball out to center on a 2-2 count against Josh Tomlin. The Japanese two-way player got the silent treatment from teammates when he returned to the dugout, but not from the crowd. After players broke character and jumped around Ohtani to celebrate, Mike Trout pointed to the field and instructed Ohtani to take a curtain call.

The hit was Ohtani’s second in the majors — his first was in his first big-league at-bat, at Oakland last Thursday. He also struck out the first batter he faced in his first start as a pitcher Sunday.

Ohtani is the first player to win as a starting pitcher, then start and homer as a non-pitcher in his next game in the same season since Babe Ruth in 1921.

Ohtani will pitch against Oakland on Sunday in his first start at home.

Ohtani’s shot would have been a grand slam, except Kole Calhoun had scored on a wild pitch earlier in the at-bat.

BARZAL LIFTS ISLES

Mathew Barzal notched two goals and an assist, scoring the tiebreaking goal with 61/2 minutes remaining, to lead the host Islanders to a 5-4 victory as the Flyers squandered a chance to move closer to a playoff spot. John Tavares also scored twice for the Islanders.

SIXERS WIN 11TH STRAIGHT

J.J. Redick scored 19 points and Ben Simmons had 15 points and 12 rebounds to lead the host 76ers to their 11th straight victory, 121-95 over the Nets. That kept the 76ers in fourth pletsace in the Eastern Conference with five games left. Spencer Dinwiddie scored 16 for the Nets (25-53).

EX-JET RADEMACHER DEAD

Bill Rademacher, a two-way player for the Jets in their early years, has died. He was 75. A wide receiver and defensive back for five seasons, he was a backup and special-teams player in the 1968 title season.

Rademacher was released before the 1969 season and played for the Patriots for two years.