Sunday's game in Anaheim was one for the record books with Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani becoming just the third pitcher to bat for himself since the designated hitter became available to American League clubs in 1973. After absolutely raking in spring training (.548/.571/1.032 with five homers in 31 Cactus League at-bats), the left-handed-hitting Ohtani was slotted second in L.A.’s order, sandwiched between leadoff man David Fletcher (recent recipient of a five-year, $26-million contract extension) and three-time American League MVP Mike Trout. That's the lowest an MLB pitcher has hit in the lineup in over a century.
The 26-year-old wasted no time in establishing his dominance Sunday night, touching 101 mph on the gun (the highest reading by an MLB starting pitcher this year) before jumping on a first-pitch fastball from White Sox starter Dylan Cease, launching Cease’s first-inning offering 451 feet into the center-field bleachers. Ohtani’s two-run blast left the park at an astounding 115.2 mph, the highest exit velocity recorded in the majors this season.
After being treated with kid gloves early in his career, the training wheels finally came off Sunday with Halos skipper Joe Maddon permitting Ohtani to both bat and pitch in the same game, his first time doing so since debuting in 2018. Sunday was also the first instance of Ohtani pitching immediately following a game where he batted (the fourth-year slugger contributed a single and a stolen base in Saturday’s 5-3 victory).
Ohtani’s attempt at double-dipping was largely successful, though he did encounter trouble in a bizarre fifth inning that saw the White Sox tally three runs, only one of which was earned. Needing just one more out to qualify for the win, Maddon left Ohtani in to face third baseman Yoan Moncada with runners on second and third. Ohtani fooled Moncada, who chased a 3-2 splitter for what should have been the inning’s final out. Instead, the pitch eluded catcher Max Stassi, who then rushed an errant throw to first base, scoring a pair of White Sox runners including reigning American League MVP Jose Abreu.
Ohtani came off the mound to cover home on the throw from Fletcher, colliding with a sliding Abreu at the plate. The Japanese ace left the game as a result, though the Angels insist his departure wasn’t injury-related. Ohtani’s final line came out to two hits, five walks, three runs (one earned), a wild pitch and seven strikeouts over 92 pitches including 53 for strikes.
Brilliant as Ohtani was, at least until his unfortunate fifth inning, the unquestioned star of Sunday night was first baseman Jared Walsh, who couldn’t have picked a better time for his first career multi-homer game. With a chance to win it in the bottom of the ninth, Walsh swatted Matt Foster’s 95-mph cheese into deep center, sending Los Angeles to a walk-off 7-4 victory at Angel Stadium.
It’s too early to tell if the Angels, who last won a playoff game in 2009, are for real, though even if they struggle to stay relevant in the hotly-contested AL West, Ohtani will be a must-watch whenever he takes the hill for Los Angeles.
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