Ohtani shows off power with bat, arm

Shohei Ohtani continues to amaze.

The Angels star quickly showed off his freakish dual-threat skills Sunday in just his third start on the mound in more than a year. Ohtani, 26, pitched a scoreless first inning against the White Sox, striking out one and walking another. He topped out at 101 mph.

In the bottom of the frame, he hit the first pitch he saw for a 450-foot home run — his second of the season — deep in the stands in rightcenter field at Angels Stadium.

The blast’s exit velocity was clocked at 115 mph, and it also marked the first time a starting pitcher has hit in the top 2 of a lineup in 118 years, according to MLB.

Ohtani, in his third season with the Angels since coming over from Japan, only pitched twice in 2020 after coming back from Tommy John surgery and later forearm tightness.

Ohtani, though, left the Angels’ 7-4 victory after a collision while covering home plate as two runs scored on a wild pitch in the fifth inning. The Angels, according to ESPN, said he had general soreness and will be re-evaluated Monday. In all, Ohtani struck out seven, walked five and allowed two hits and three runs (one earned) in 4 2/3 innings.

Phillies 2, Braves 1

In Philadelphia, Alec Bohm hit a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning, Zach Eflin gave Philadelphia another strong start and the Phillies completed a threegame sweep of the defending NL East champion Braves with a 2-1 win Sunday. Philadelphia’s pitching staff was the story of the season-opening series as the starting trio of Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler and Eflin surrendered only three runs, 11 hits and one walk in 20 2/3 innings against an Atlanta lineup that led the majors in 2020 with 556 hits.

Orioles 11, Red Sox 3

In Boston, the Red Sox dropped to 0-3 at Fenway Park for the first time since 1948 and the second time ever as Trey Mancini and Austin Hays hit two-run doubles during a seven-run third inning.

Cedric Mullins went 5-for-5 with three doubles and walk for the Orioles, collecting four hits in the initial four innings. Maikel Franco added a first-inning, two-run double, helping Baltimore to its first three-game sweep at Fenway since 2017.