Ohtani strikes out 11 to beat White Sox

ANAHEIM » Shohei Ohtani made history last week by becoming the second player in the history of Major League Baseball to drive in eight runs as a hitter and record double-digit strikeouts as a pitcher. That he did so on consecutive days merely added to his legend.

Ohtani took the mound again Wednesday. One day after going 3 for 3 with a home run, Ohtani pitched 5 2/3 innings and did not allow a run in the Angels' 4-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox.

The Angels have won four consecutive Ohtani starts. During that streak, he's thrown 21 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings. Not only has he looked no worse for the wear of hitting and pitching on consecutive nights, Ohtani is thriving with a workload unparalleled in baseball history.

Ohtani (7-4) also drew a walk in four plate appearances as the Angels' designated hitter. Ohtani's month of June also included an 11-game hitting streak and the hardest-hit home run of his career, a 118-mph blast Saturday against the Mariners.

The win allowed the Angels (37-41) to take two of three games in the series, four of nine on their homestand, and finish the month of June with a 1018 record.

White Sox starter Michael Kopech (2-5) began the first inning by allowing a single to Taylor Ward, followed by an RBI double by Mike Trout. Trout later came around to score on an error by Kopech himself. The pitcher's day ended when he allowed a two-run home run to Luis Rengifo in the sixth inning.

Rengifo also hit a double, finishing 2 for 3 on a night when the Angels collected just five hits as a team.

That was enough offense for Ohtani, who allowed five hits, walked one batter and struck out 11. Uniquely, none of the 11 strikeouts came on fastballs. Five ended with a splitter, five with a slider, and one with a curveball. Ohtani's fastball topped out at 101 mph.

The right-hander is 4-0 with a 0.34 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 26 2/3 innings since June 9.

Jose Quijada threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of Ohtani. Ryan Tepera allowed only an unearned run in the eight inning. Raisel Iglesias recorded his 15th save with a scorless ninth inning.