OC Register: Shohei Ohtani and Zack Cozart lift Angels over Minnesota Twins

[AngelsWin.com]

• Fans clap as Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani, of Japan, leaves the field during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, May 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

• Minnesota Twins shortstop Gregorio Petit fails to throw out Los Angeles Angels’ Zack Cozart at first during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, May 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

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• Los Angeles Angels’ Justin Upton watches his RBI-single against the Minnesota Twins during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, May 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

• Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Fernando Romero reacts after Los Angeles Angels’ Justin Upton was called safe at first during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, May 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

• Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani, of Japan, walks to the dugout before a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, May 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

• Los Angeles Angels’ Justin Upton slams his helmet after striking out to end the third inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, May 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

• Fans watch as Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17), of Japan, throws against the Minnesota Twins during the third inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, May 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

• Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani, of Japan, throws against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, May 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

• Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani, of Japan, is greeted in the dugout after the top of the first inning against the Minnesota Twins during a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, May 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

• Los Angeles Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons cannot get a glove on a single by Minnesota Twins’ Logan Morrison during the second inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, May 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

• Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani, of Japan, throws against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, May 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

• Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Fernando Romero throws against the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, May 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

• Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani, of Japan, throws against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Sunday, May 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

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ANAHEIM – Shohei Ohtani started it and Zack Cozart finished it.

Ohtani pitched a gem but did not factor into the decision as the Angels beat the Minnesota Twins, 2-1 before an announced crowd of 38,029 at Angel Stadium on Sunday.

Zack Cozart’s walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning drove in Chris Young with the game-winning run.

Ohtani looked unhittable for the better part of 6 1/3 innings. His fastball was still touching 98 mph in the seventh. Fernando Romero, a 23-year-old right-hander making his third career start for the Twins, was every bit his equal.

The two rookies traded zeros for four innings. Then in the fifth, Martin Maldonado greeted Romero with a double to begin the bottom half of the inning. A single by Zack Cozart gave the Angels runners on first and third base with nobody out.

Romero struck out Kole Calhoun and very nearly ended the inning by getting Justin Upton to hit into a double play. But Upton beat Brian Dozier’s relay throw to first base by a hair, allowing Maldonado to score the game’s first run.

MOM turned upside down spells WOW!#ShoTime #MothersDay pic.twitter.com/BDkRrMWFnt

— Angels (@Angels) May 13, 2018

The Angels were still leading 1-0 when Ohtani was removed after he walked Logan Morrison with one out in the seventh inning. Cam Bedrosian relieved Ohtani and quickly got into trouble. Robbie Grossman singled, sending Morrison to third base. Pinch hitter Joe Mauer singled, scoring pinch runner Ehire Adrianza. Bedrosian got out of the inning without allowing another run, but the game was tied.

Ohtani was charged with just one in 6 1/3 innings, striking out 11 batters and walking two. His 103 pitches were a career high in his first major league season.

Twins pitcher Zach Duke hit Young in the back foot with a pitch to begin the bottom of the ninth inning. Maldonado laid down a sacrifice bunt, sending Young to second base.

Cozart was the next batter. He stroked the first pitch he saw from Duke into left field, and Young scored from second base standing up.

The Angels (24-16) had lost two straight games to Minnesota (17-19).

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