2way threat Ohtani shines as Angels win
Shohei Ohtani both hit the hardest homer and threw the hardest pitch by a starter in the majors this season in an extraordinary twoway performance for the host Los Angeles Angels on Sunday night.
But ironically, it was L.A.’s other twoway player, first baseman Jared Walsh, who starred in the ninth with a threerun homer as the Angels beat the Chicago White Sox 74.
The White Sox had tied it 44 in the top of the ninth as closer Raisel Iglesias’ throwing error allowed Nick Madrigal to score.
Ohtani pitched and hit in the same game for the first time since moving to the majors. He hit 100.6 mph with a fastball in the first inning, and his 451foot homer on the first pitch he saw as the Angels’ No. 2 hitter moments later went 115 mph off the bat. Those are tops this season among starting pitchers and hitters, and Ohtani had a 101.1mph fastball later.
He was excellent in the first four innings of his first mound start of the season, holding Chicago scoreless and allowing just one hit. But his frequent control problems intensified in the fifth, and the White Sox tied it 33 during a twoout rally featuring two of Ohtani’s five walks and a wild pitch.
Ohtani is the third pitcher over the past 45 seasons to hit for himself in a game with the designated hitter available. The last time it happened was on June 30, 2016, when the Giants’ Madison Bumgarner batted for himself against the A’s in an interleague game.
Orioles 11, Red Sox 3: The Red Sox fell to their first 0-3 start at Fenway Park since 1948 and their second ever. Trey Mancini and Austin Hays hit two-run doubles during a seven-run third inning, carrying Baltimore to the series sweep.
Phillies 2, Braves 1: Alec Bohm hit a tie-breaking single in the eighth inning, Zach Eflin gave host Philadelphia another strong start and the Phillies completed a three-game sweep of Atlanta. Dodgers 4, Rockies 2: Julio Urias pitched into the eighth inning for Los Angeles as the world champions won the last three in a fourgame series at Coors Field. Austin Gomber (0-1), one of five players acquired from St. Louis in the Nolan Arenado trade, walked seven and struggled in his debut with Colorado.
D’backs 3, Padres 1: Rookie Taylor Widener flustered host San Diego’s potent offense for six scoreless innings to win his first big-league start and David Peralta hit a two-run triple for Arizona. Reds 12, Cardinals 1: Nicholas Castellanos and Tyler Naquin hit three-run home runs for host Cincinnati, which won two in a row to take the opening matchup of NL Central teams that earned wildcard spots last season. Jeff Hoffman (1-0) gave up a just run and three hits through five innings with six strikeouts.
Indians 9, Tigers 3: Jordan Luplow hit a two-run homer to cap a four-run seventh, and visiting Cleveland overcame a home run by Akil Baddoo on the first pitch of his first major-league at-bat. Baddoo, 22, was taken by the Tigers with the third pick of the 2020 winter meeting draft of unprotected players.
Blue Jays 3, Yankees 1: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Randal Grichuk homered off Domingo German (0-1), who allowed three runs over three innings in his first appearance since Sept. 18, 2019, after serving a suspension under MLB’s domestic violence policy. Visiting Toronto won two of three.
Cubs 4, Pirates 3: Zach Davies (1-0) permitted two runs and four hits in 5 2⁄3 innings in his debut for host Chicago against Pittsburgh. Ian Happ homered for the Cubs, and Kris Bryant reached base three times.
Rangers 7, Royals 3: Nate Lowe hit a three-run homer in the third for visiting Texas, which avoided a sweep, and had a team-record nine RBIs in the first three games of the season. Isiah Kiner-Falefa also drove in three runs.
Twins 8, Brewers 2: Miguel Sano and Mitch Garver homered to back up Michael Pineda (1-0), who gave up one unearned run and four hits in five innings. Luis Arraez went 3-for-3 with two walks as the visiting Minnesota took two of three.