Kody Clemens found a reason to smile in the Tigers' 10-0 loss to the Angels Monday night.
So did A.J. Hinch and the rest of Detroit's dugout when Clemens, pitching for the second time in three days and the sixth time this season, struck out reigning AL MVP Shohei Ohtani on a 68 mph eephus pitch that drifted across the outside corner and then pumped his fist in celebration.
Clemens, an infielder/outfielder in his rookie season with the Tigers and the son of one of the greatest pitchers ever, tossed the strikeout ball to the Tigers' dugout in hopes of getting it signed by Ohtani later this series.
"I'm just trying to get outs, and for it to come like that is obviously super cool," Clemens told reporters. "He's the best player in baseball. So it's a pretty cool moment for me."
Ohtani, who had already homered twice in the Angels' rout, was smiling, too.
"It was a wonderful pitch," he said afterward.
Hinch was able to appreciate the moment, even if it came in yet another ugly loss for the last-place Tigers.
"Big smile on Kody’s face, Shohei tipped his cap," Hinch said. "I don’t know if he’s ever faced a position player before, but that’ll go down in the memory book for Kody.”
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