‘I can’t pitch, but I keep hitting’ Ohtani hits for third straight game…Angels win 10-8

Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim may not be on the mound as a pitcher, but he’s getting hits at the plate.

The Angels defeated the 2023 Major League Baseball Philadelphia Phillies 10-8 on the road at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., on Aug. 31.

Ohtani started in the No. 3 spot in the lineup and went 1-for-4 with a run scored, one RBI and one walk. While he has been unable to pitch due to an elbow ligament injury, he is on a three-game hitting streak at the plate. In three games, he has five hits and three RBIs.

In his first at-bat, he struck out swinging. He was hit by a five-pitch, 82.4-mph changeup from Philadelphia left-hander Christopher Sanchez.

The Angels took the lead in the top of the second on Logan Ohoff’s double to left field, followed by Hunter Renfroe’s two-run homer, but the game was tied with one out in the bottom of the inning.

Ohtani came up big in his second at-bat of the inning. With one out, he took a Sanchez fastball and hit a 92.1-mph sinker for a grounder in front of the first baseman.

The game changed in the top of the fifth. Renfroe led off with a double to right-center and Eduardo Escobar followed with an infield single. Andrew Velasquez laid down a sacrifice bunt and the pitcher made an error.

That allowed Renfroe to cross home plate, putting runners on first and second with no outs. Nolan Schagneel hit a grounder in front of the pitcher to get Escobar at second. Luis Renfroe struck out swinging.

Needing a run, Ohtani singled to right and Brandon Drury followed with an RBI single to center off reliever Jeff Hoffman.

Down 5-2, the Angels responded with one run in the bottom of the fifth and three more in the top of the sixth.

But in the top of the eighth, Ohtani drew a leadoff walk and Drury drew a walk to load the bases. Randall Grichuk singled up the middle to load the bases.바카라사이트

After Ohhoff popped out to shortstop, Renfroe followed with a double to right-center field. It scored Ohtani from third and Drury from second.

The Angels gave up a two-run homer to Bryce Harper in the bottom of the eighth, but a Renfroe sacrifice fly, an Otani walk and a Drury two-run double in the top of the ninth put them back in front.

The Angels rallied and brought in Carlos Estevez, who pitched a scoreless ninth to preserve the win.