Sports

Shohei Ohtani Shines on Mound, but Angels Blow Lead in Loss to A's

World Baseball Classic MVP Shohei Ohtani strikes out 10 in six scoreless innings on Opening Day. Oakland rallies for two runs in the eighth inning.

Published

1 year ago

March 31, 2023

Ed Odeven

Los Angeles Angels right-hander Shohei Ohtani fires a pitch to an Oakland Athletics batter on Opening Day on March 30 at Oakland Coliseum. (KYODO)

Read the full story on SportsLook - Shohei Ohtani Shines on Mound, but Angels Blow Lead in Loss to A's

Shohei Ohtani pitched six scoreless innings of two-hit ball and fanned 10 batters on Opening Day.

It was a familiar storyline.

The Los Angeles Angels led 1-0 when Ohtani's pitching duties ended on Thursday, March 30 against the Oakland Athletics. Then, in the eighth inning, the A's rallied for two runs in a 2-1 victory over their American League West rivals at Oakland Coliseum.

The Angels dropped their sixth straight MLB season opener.

"We got a lot of guys on base and in scoring position, we just lacked that one big hit," Ohtani was quoted as saying through interpreter Ippei Mizuhara by The Associated Press.

World Baseball Classic MVP Ohtani, hitting in his familiar third spot in the Angels lineup, went 1-for-3 with a walk.

After Mike Trout walked to lead off the top of the fourth, Ohtani singled to right. The Angels failed to capitalize on this scoring opportunity, however.

A's left-hander Kyle Muller had a solid outing, allowing four hits and a run in five frames. He walked one and struck out two.

The Angels broke a scoreless tie on MLB rookie Logan O'Hoppe's one-out single to left in the fifth.

Four Oakland relievers held the Angels without a run the rest of the way.

Continue reading the full story on SportsLook.

Author: Ed Odeven

Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and Twitter ＠ed_odeven.