“Baseball itself” Shohei Ohtani (29-LA Angels) made history when he became the first pitcher in Major League Baseball history to complete a doubleheader with a complete game shutout and two home runs in each game. Even the opposing pitcher, who was hit by two home runs, was in awe.
Ohtani tossed nine innings of one-hit ball with three walks and eight strikeouts in the first game of a doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., on Monday (Aug. 28) to earn his first major league complete game victory. He threw a total of 111 pitches to complete his first career shutout. He improved to 9-5 on the season with a 3.43 ERA.
In the second game of the doubleheader after a 45-minute break, Ohtani batted second and exploded for back-to-back home runs in the third and fourth innings. It was his 37th and 38th home runs of the season, leading the league in that category. Ohtani’s two-hit performance helped the Angels sweep both games of the doubleheader, extend their winning streak to four games and improve to 8-1 in their last nine.
Ohtani is just the fifth player in Major League Baseball history to throw a complete game and hit two home runs on the same day, joining Milt Pappas in 1961, Pedro Ramos in 1962, and Rick Wise and Sonny Siebert in 1971. However, Ohtani is the first pitcher in baseball history to throw a complete game and hit two home runs in the same game.
Detroit pitcher Matt Manning, 25, who also hit a home run, was in awe. Manning, who started the second game of the doubleheader but gave up back-to-back solo homers to Ohtani in the third and fourth innings, allowing seven runs (three earned) on seven hits with one walk and five strikeouts in five innings to take his second loss of the season, was full of reflective comments after the game.
After the game, Manning was quoted by local media, including the Associated Press, as saying, “Ohtani probably had the best day in baseball history, like nobody’s ever seen before. It was unbelievable.”
“There’s a reason he’s got 40 home runs,” Manning said of the home run, “and I hit one off him, but I was in the game even when the count was against me. I’m proud of myself for not avoiding him.”바카라사이트
Detroit catcher Jake Rogers said, “Two home runs in a complete game is impressive. It’s unbelievable.” Detroit manager A.J. Hinch said, “Ohtani was the best player on the field in both games of the doubleheader. In game one, he was absolutely dominant. It wasn’t fun to watch him up close,” he said, adding, “I have a lot of respect for him, but it’s a pain to go up against him.”
Ohtani’s presence in the game is growing by the day, with opposing managers and players alike expressing their respect.