Ohtani Turns in Another Gem as the Angels Blank Nationals 2-0

The Los Angeles Angels defeated the Washington Nationals 2-0 thanks to another outstanding performance by pitcher Shohei Ohtani, who allowed just one hit over the course of seven innings.

Tuesday night, Shohei Ohtani put on another outstanding pitching display, allowing just one hit over the course of seven innings as the Los Angeles Angels defeated the Washington Nationals 2-0.

The Angels ended a two-game losing streak when rookie catcher Logan O’Hoppe hit his team-high fourth home run of the year.

With his 10th consecutive start allowing two runs or less, Ohtani (2-0) established an Angels record. Over the 1972–73 seasons, Nolan Ryan had a nine-game streak.

The Japanese two-way superstar had four walks and six strikeouts. He has a 0.47 ERA and has only given up one run in his first three starts.

Ohtani is the 14th major league pitcher to pitch at least 19 innings through his first three starts, allow one or fewer earned runs, and strike out at least six batters in each game since 1901, according to Sportradar.

The last to do so were the San Diego Padres’ Joe Musgrove and Tyler Glasnow of the Tampa Bay Rays.

For the first time since July 23, 2020, the Nationals, who entered the game leading the National League with 103 hits, had just one hit against the New York Mets. They scored 14 in the 6-4 victory on Monday night.

After allowing a one-out walk in the ninth, Carlos Estévez struck out the next two batters to earn his first save. Jose Quijada struck out the Nationals in the eighth.

A two-out double to right in the fourth inning by CJ Abrams was the only hit of the game. This moved runners to second and third after Keibert Ruiz walked earlier in the inning, but Michael Chavis grounded out to shortstop Gio Urshela to end the frame.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Angels would score their first run. After Josiah Gray (0-3) hit Taylor Ward and Mike Trout with pitches, Ohtani blooped a single to left to put runners on the corners. Anthony Rendon’s sacrifice fly to the right helped Ward score.

O’Hoppe connected on Gray’s cutter, which was slightly elevated but down the middle, for a solo shot to left, doubling the Angels’ lead.

Two runs on four hits were given up by Gray over 5 2/3 innings.

TRAINER’S ROOM

IF/OF Ildemaro Vargas of the Nationals has been listed as 10-day injured (back to April 10) due to a left shoulder strain. Triple-A Rochester’s Jeter Downs was promoted. … After being absent from the game on Monday due to illness, manager Davey Martinez was back in the dugout.

Angels: Rendon returned to the starting lineup after sitting out Monday’s game due to soreness in his shoulder from being hit by a pitch on Sunday.

UP NEXT

In the series finale, Griffin Canning of the Angels will face Washington left-hander MacKenzie Gore (2-0, 2.38 ERA). After missing the previous season due to a back injury, Canning will make his first appearance in the big leagues since July of 2021.

Reference: www.usnews.com