Ohtani allows 4 homers, still gets victory in Angels’ 8-5 win

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Shohei Ohtani allowed four homers for the first time in his major league career while pitching six-hit ball into the seventh inning and earning the mound victory in the Los Angeles Angels’ 8-5 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night.

Ohtani pitched through his struggles and didn’t leave the game until the seventh inning, allowing five runs on six hits with nine strikeouts. He got a standing ovation amid chants of “M-V-P! M-V-P!” from Angels fans in his final mound start at home before the major league trade deadline Aug. 1.

“I’m very happy to hear this, obviously,” Ohtani said through his translator. “But at the same time, I felt like I could have performed better and given us a better shot.”

Ohtani is in the final year of team control before unrestricted free agency, but the Angels have said they’re unlikely to trade the 2021 AL MVP, particularly if they’re in the playoff race at the deadline. Los Angeles had a 1-10 swoon around the AllStar break, but has won five of six since to improve its hopes of contending.

“That did not cross my mind at all,” Ohtani said of the possibility he had just made his final mound appearance for the Halos at the Big A. “Obviously, I’m a part of the Angels at this moment, and I feel like we’re in a decent spot to make a playoff run, so I just try not to really think about that.”

Ohtani also scored two runs while drawing three walks at the plate for the Angels, who have won four in a row. Los Angeles manager Phil Nevin praised his ace for resilience.

“He ran the bases, what, four or five times today?” Nevin asked. “There’s a factor in that. It just seems the more times he’s on base, the fatigue sets in earlier. …He was throwing strikes. He went right after hitters. They’ve got some good hitters, and good hitters are going to hit pitches out sometimes.”

Pirates rookie Henry Davis became the first major league player to homer twice off Ohtani. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 draft had three total hits off Ohtani, while Ji Man Choi and Jack Suwinski also homered in Pittsburgh’s power spree from the fourth to the sixth innings.

The Angels bailed out Ohtani (8-5) with their own homer-happy display: Mike Moustakas hit a three-run shot and Trey Cabbage hit his first major league homer in the fourth before Zach Neto and Taylor Ward homered in the fifth.

Ohtani’s bullpen also pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings, with All-Star closer Carlos Estévez finishing up for his 22nd save.

Johan Oviedo (3-11) yielded five runs on three hits and three walks over four innings.