Shohei Ohtani (29) cries over a bullpen fire despite a 10-strikeout performance. He lost his sixth win of the season. In his final at-bat, he was seen getting angry after failing to capitalize on a chance. He struck out on a straight line drive and slammed his helmet in frustration as he entered the dugout. The team was brought to its knees in the top of the 10th inning of extra innings by a series of amateurish errors.
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim lost their 2023 Major League Baseball (MLB) home game against the Miami Marlins, 5-8, in 10 innings of extra innings at Angels Stadium in Anaheim, California, U.S., on April 28.
On the day, Ohtani was the starting pitcher and batting third. On the mound, he pitched six innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits with 10 strikeouts and three walks. He lowered his ERA from 3.05 to 2.91. He totaled 109 pitches, 75 of which were strikes, but the bullpen gave up the runs that prevented him from earning his sixth win. They are now 5-1 on the season. The bats were silent on the day, going 0-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout. His season batting average dropped to .269 from .275.
Ohtani led off the first inning with a grounder to the pitcher, but a throwing error allowed Davis to advance to second. It was a rare throwing error by Ohtani. After retiring Soler on a wild pitch, Ohtani induced Araez to ground out to first base to load the bases. He then gave up a walk to De La Cruz and a single to left field to Gurriel, but a wild pitch on the ensuing wandle prevented any further damage.
Ohtani began to settle down in the second inning. He struck out leadoff hitter Berti on three pitches before giving up a walk to Starlings, but induced Edwards to fly out to center field to end the inning.
The Angels quickly tied the game in the bottom of the second. Two batters later, Walsh drew a leadoff walk and Aschella followed with a two-run double to left-center (1-1).
The third inning was a triple play. Davis flied out to shortstop, Soler struck out and Araez was retired on a pitcher’s choice. In the fourth, he worked out of a jam with two outs and gave up an infield single to Wendle, but struck out Berti to end the inning.
But he gave up another run in the fifth. Starlings led off with a single, Edwards followed with an infield single, and moved to third on Davis’ infield single. Soler followed with a walk. Araez followed with an RBI single to right to make it a 2-1 game.
Ohtani, who had been retired on a fly ball to left field in the first and a grounder to second base in the third, had a chance to make amends in the fifth. With runners on first and second, Trout drew a walk. Ohtani was the next batter, but he hit a grounder to the second baseman.
It was too late to go down with the lead. In the top of the sixth, Ohtani took the mound again. He struck out Gurriel and Wendle before giving up a single to right-center to Berti, but induced a swinging strikeout of Starlings to end his day.
Then came the bottom of the sixth. Ohtani and the Angels bench got their wish. They turned the game around and gave Ohtani the win. One out later, Drury doubled down the left field line and Walsh walked to put runners on first and second. Aschella grounded out to third. That’s where Tice came in for Wallach. The result was a big one. Tice lined a two-run single to right off reliever Barnes to make it a 3-2 game.
Now, if the Angels’ bullpen could protect the lead, Ohtani could pick up the win. But then came the top of the seventh inning. Ohtani’s win was blown. 안전놀이터 The “arsonist” was Angels reliever Chase Silseth. With runners on first and second. Two wild pitches moved Davis to third. Finally, Soler hit a full-count two-run homer to left field against Silseth. The score was 4-3.
In the bottom of the seventh, Ohtani led off with a walk and stole second. Two batters later, Drury drew a walk, but Walsh grounded out to third, leaving Ohtani stranded at home.
The Angels put runners on first and second with no outs in the eighth after Silseth, who was on the mound again, gave up two straight walks. He struck out. Devensky came on and struck out the next three batters in a row. After surviving the threat, the Angels tied the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the eighth when leadoff hitter Aschella hit a solo arch to left-center field.
In the bottom of the ninth, both teams were tied at 4-4. Trout led off with a single to right-center. The next batter was Ohtani, who had no previous hits. He took a good swing at a pitch from Dylan Floro, but was cut down in front of the shortstop. The replay showed Ohtani walking into the dugout and “flicking” his bat into a chair. He then took off his helmet and slammed it on the chair to show his frustration. It was a rare moment of anger from Ohtani.
In the end, the game went to extra innings. In the 10th inning. The Angels made an amateurish play. With one out, the Angels bench sent Gurriel to the plate on an automatic intentional walk. But pinch-hitter Cooper followed with a double to left-center. Angels left fielder Mickey Moniak tried to catch the ball in an unsteady position and spilled it. The next batter, Berti, drew another automatic intentional walk, putting runners on first and third with Starlings at the plate. The ball went to the catcher, who threw to first, and it looked like a double play would end the inning.
But then an amateurish mistake was made. As it turns out, the catcher didn’t step on home plate when he caught the ball. After video review, a safe call was made, allowing Gurriel to score. Hampson followed with a two-run double to left field to make it 8-4. It was the game-winning blow. The Angels got one run back in the bottom of the 10th, but it wasn’t enough to put the game away.
