OC Register: Shohei Ohtani, Mike Trout lead Angels to series victory over Mariners

[AngelsWin.com]

• Los Angeles Angels’ Chris Young is greeted in the dugout after he hit a solo home run during the second inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 6, 2018, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

• Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani throws against the Seattle Mariners in the third inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 6, 2018, at Safeco Field in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

• Sound

  The gallery will resume inseconds

• Los Angeles Angels’ Zack Cozart heads to first base after hitting a double during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Sunday, May 6, 2018, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

• Los Angeles Angels’ Zack Cozart is greeted in the dugout after he hit a solo home run in the second inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Sunday, May 6, 2018, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

• Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani throws against the Seattle Mariners in the third inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 6, 2018, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

• Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Felix Hernandez stands on the mound as Los Angeles Angels’ Chris Young rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the second inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 6, 2018, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

• Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Felix Hernandez throws against the Los Angeles Angels in the second inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 6, 2018, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

• Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani throws against the Seattle Mariners in the second inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 6, 2018, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

• Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani throws against the Seattle Mariners in the second inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 6, 2018, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

• Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani throws against the Seattle Mariners in the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 6, 2018, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

• Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani throws against the Seattle Mariners in the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 6, 2018, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

• Fans hold cards with the name of Los Angeles Angels pitcher Shohei Ohtani as they wait in the stands before the scheduled start of Ohtani in a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners,, Sunday, May 6, 2018, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Show Caption

of

Expand

SEATTLE — Judging by the response to Shohei Ohtani from the normally good-natured customers at Safeco Field this weekend, Seattle Mariners fans don’t take rejection well.

Ohtani, who spurned the Mariners offer to sign with the Angels, was booed when he came to bat on Friday night and when he took the mound on Sunday afternoon, both times contributing to Angels victories.

Ohtani took a shutout into the sixth inning of the Angels’ 8-2 victory on Sunday, after collecting two hits on Friday night.

Mike Trout added a three-run homer in his third straight three-hit game this weekend. The Mariners, however, are used to dealing with Trout. This weekend marked the first time in the regular season that they or their fans got a look at Ohtani.

He showed both sides of his game, which is why he was coveted so much by the Mariners — and just about every other major league team  — before he signed with the Angels. The Mariners were one of the seven finalists, and widely considered to be one of the favorites for his services.

Sign up for Home Turf and get 3 exclusive stories every SoCal sports fan must read, sent daily. Subscribe here.

Ohtani’s performance on Sunday helped the Angels to their fifth victory in their last six games, and continued their streak of winning every series against an American League West opponent. The Angels are 12-4 against the AL West, and 21-13 overall.

Lucky fin! @MikeTrout pic.twitter.com/PEz7eUEwg1

— Angels (@Angels) May 6, 2018

Ohtani shut out the Mariners on four singles through the first six innings. In his first start since April 24, after missing a turn because of a mild ankle sprain, Ohtani struck out six, showing a good slider and splitter.

By the time the Mariners got to him for a Ryon Healy two-run homer in the seventh, the Angels had a 6-0 lead.

Zack Cozart and Chris Young had hit solo homers against Felix Hernandez in the second, and Trout then padded the lead in the sixth with a three-run homer.

Trout has been on a hot streak, even by his standard, with 11 hits in his last 19 at-bats, including six extra base hits.

Trout also helped Ohtani out of a potential jam with a brilliant throw in the fifth. Ben Gamel had tried to go from first to third on a single up the middle, but Trout made a strong throw to nail him. Gamel was initially called safe, but the replay showed he slid off the base.

More to come on this story.

View the full article