Ohtani snaps Angels out of 5-game slump
ANAHEIM: Shohei Ohtani struck out nine while throwing 7-2/3 innings of excellent six-hit ball in his seventh career start, and the Los Angeles Angels snapped their fivegame skid with a 5-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday.
Martin Maldonado homered and drove in two runs, and Zack Cozart drove in two more runs on sacrifice flies as the Angels wrapped up a disappointing 11-game homestand with only four victories — including both games started by Ohtani (4-1).
Los Angeles’ rookie two-way sensation had another strong outing in the longest start of his stateside career.
Ohtani retired 12 straight Rays after yielding rookie Johnny Field’s homer leading off the third. Blake Parker pitched the ninth for his second save.
While Ohtani threw 110 pitches, reliever Sergio Romo started for Tampa Bay for the second consecutive day. He faced the Angels’ first six batters and got four outs while becoming the first pitcher in 38 years to last at least one inning in back-toback starts. The reliever gave way to Matt Andriese (1-2), who gave up two unearned runs in the fourth.
In Kansas City, Tyler Austin hit a pair of two-run homers, Sonny Gray (3-3) allowed four hits in eight innings and the New York Yankees routed the Royals 10-1 to win their eighth consecutive series for the first time since 1998.
Miguel Andujar and Austin Romine added back-to-back homers in the ninth for the Yankees, who have won 14 of their last 15 against the AL Central.
Eric Skoglund (1-4) gave up six runs and eight hits in five innings.
In Cincinnati, Yu Darvish (1-3) recovered from a shaky start for his first win with the Cubs, allowing one run and two hits in six innings in their 6-1 triumph over the Reds.
In his second outing since coming off the disabled list on Tuesday, the four-time AllStar overcame a 39-pitch first inning and finished six for the third time this season.
It was Darvish’s first start with Chicago since signing a US$126 million, six-year contract in the offseason.
Kyle Schwarber hit a two-run homer, and Javier Baez and Ben Zobrist each had a solo shot off Tyler Mahle (3-6).