Should you go ‘all in’ on a hitter?
Shohei Ohtani, the Japanese star of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in Major League Baseball, showed off his bat once again.
Ohtani started at second base and batted designated hitter in the Angels’ game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on Thursday. Ohtani went 2-for-2 with two doubles, a triple, a walk, and two runs scored in a “five-strikeout” game that helped the team to a 7-3 victory.
He’s been hitting very well lately. Ohtani extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a double down the right field line in his first at-bat of the day. I watched him hit a multi-homer game the day before. Leads the American League in home runs with 20. It was the third straight year he’d reached the 20-homer plateau. Texas pitchers were wary of Ohtani. That’s why he was able to draw three walks.안전놀이터
In his second at-bat of the third inning, Ohtani drew his first walk of the game, and in his third at-bat, he set the stage for the game-winner. In the sixth inning with the bases loaded and his team trailing 1-3, he singled for his second hit of the day. Spurred on by Ohtani’s RBI, the Angels capitalized on an error to pull within one run, and Renfroe’s two-run homer put them back in front.
Ohtani walked on an automatic double play in the seventh inning with runners on second and third. Texas’ decision to walk Ohtani paid off. He struck out Drury at third to end the threat.
Ohtani came in after Neto’s two-run double in the ninth and drew another walk to complete his pre-game hitting streak. A subsequent stolen base and a run scored on the next batter’s hit were bonuses. He also drove in two runs on the day.
With his performance, Ohtani raised his season batting average to 2-for-9. He’s on pace for three. As for the pitcher, he’s been a bit off form lately. He is 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA in his last seven starts. In his last two starts against the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners, he gave up four runs in six innings and three runs in five innings. It was uncharacteristic of Ohtani, but his tremendous momentum at the plate was a welcome consolation prize for his struggles on the mound.
Meanwhile, the Angels won 7-3 to extend their winning streak to three games.