Shohei Ohtani has accomplished a lot in his six-year Major League career. One of them is that if you believe he can’t accomplish anything, you’re usually mistaken.
The Angels’ two-way superstar shone again on Thursday, pitching his first career shutout (a one-hitter) in a 6-0 win against the Tigers in Game 1 of a doubleheader at Comerica Park, and then smashing his Major League-leading 37th and 38th home runs in an 11-4 victory in Game 2.
Ohtani walked three batters and struck out eight in his complete-game performance, cajoling Riley Greene to line out to centre field to seal the victory. Kerry Carpenter’s single to lead off the fifth inning was his only hit.
In Game 1, Ohtani threw 111 pitches and batted five times. He then spoke with the reporters, changed fast, and ran to the dugout for a nightcap without pausing. After getting a feel for starter Matt Manning in his first at-bat, Ohtani went to the plate in the second inning and hit on a four-seamer that exited his bat at 107.6 mph.
“He was the story of both games,” A.J. Hinch, the Tigers’ manager, said. “In both games, he was the best player on the field.” We saw him at his best on both sides.”
Which side impressed Hinch the most?
“I don’t have to pick,” he said. “[Ohtani is] the best at both, and he showed us in person.”
When was the last time a pitcher pitched a shutout and homered on the same day? According to MLB.com research expert Sarah Langs, on June 8, 1986, Expos starter Floyd Youmans allowed one hit, struck out eight, walked seven, and hit his first home run of the season against a guy called Maddux (Mike, not Greg) in the second inning of a 12-0 victory.
Ohtani’s accomplishment took two games to Youmans’ one, and he took Manning deep again in the fourth inning, this time a two-out solo homer with a 116.9 mph exit velocity.
“Guy has 40 homers for a reason,” remarked Manning. “He probably had the best baseball day anyone has ever seen today.” It was amazing. I’m proud of myself for not running away from it. I went after him even though I was behind in the count. Please tip your hat. That’s all there is to it.”
Ohtani’s 16th multihomer game of his career, and his fourth of the season. He is just the second player since at least 1900 to pitch a complete-game shutout, allowing no more than one hit, and homer twice in the same game, joining Rick Wise, who achieved the feat on June 23, 1971, while throwing a no-hitter.
“His uniqueness merits all the respect in the world,” Hinch added.
Ohtani departed Game 2 before the seventh inning with cramps, but manager Phil Nevin claimed it was merely due to the long, humid day and that Ohtani will DH in Toronto on Friday.
Ohtani’s latest grand slam occurred on a day when he was supposed to take it easy, which meant “just” DHing for nine innings. The right-hander was scheduled to start Friday’s series opener in Toronto, but when bad weather forced the clubs to combine Wednesday’s game into a Thursday doubleheader, the Angels elected to push up Ohtani’s start as well.
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