OC Register: Shohei Ohtani gets off to a good start in Angels’ tie against White Sox

[AngelsWin.com]

THE GAME: Shohei Ohtani had a pair of hits in his first two at-bats of the spring in the Angels’ 4-4 tie against the Chicago White Sox in a five-inning Cactus League game on Monday at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

PITCHING REPORT: Right-hander Alex Cobb worked a scoreless inning in his Angels debut. Cobb’s fastball was 91-93 mph, about his average last season. Cobb said he had been up to 95 mph during his last live batting practice session. Cobb walked a batter and hit a batter, the latter of which he said was a sign that his lower half had opened up. That was the main mechanical flaw he was trying to fix over the winter. … Right-hander Ty Buttrey did not allow a run in his inning. Buttrey took a comebacker off his body, but he threw the ball to first for the out and remained in the game for the last out, which was his second strikeout of the inning. … Right-hander Aaron Slegers did not allow a run in his first inning of the spring. … Right-hander Luke Bard gave up four runs on four hits and recorded just one out among the six batters he faced.

HITTING REPORT: Ohtani yanked a single into right field in his first at-bat of the spring and then singled into left in his second trip. He popped up in his third trip. Ohtani underwent an extensive retooling of his game over the winter, following a season in which he hit .190 with a .657 OPS. “I think I’m able to make good swings right now,” Ohtani said through his interpreter. “I’m where I should be. I’m feeling good right now.” Ohtani said that he’s been facing live pitching since before spring training so started, so “everything is going as planned so far.” … Mike Trout lined a single into left in his first at-bat and drew a walk in his second trip. … Albert Pujols hit a chopper down the left field line to drive in a run, and he dropped a soft single into right to drive in another. … Justin Upton struck out twice. … Shortstop Jose Iglesias lined a two-run triple into left-center. … Jose Rojas was credited with a hit when his batted ball struck Jeremiah Jackson, who was running between first and second.

DEFENSE REPORT: Second baseman Franklin Barreto made a diving catch of a soft line drive. … Second baseman Kean Wong made a nice play charging a slow bouncer. … Matt Thaiss finished the game at first base after playing third base on Sunday. … Jose Rojas started at third after playing first at the end of Sunday’s game.

UP NEXT: Angels at Cincinnati Reds, Tuesday, 5 p.m. PT, Goodyear Ballpark, Fox Sports West, 830 AM

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[Dtwncbad]

Upton struck out twice.  Let the hate parade march on.