OC Register: Shohei Ohtani gets plenty of help in Angels’ blowout win

[AngelsWin.com]

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  Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, center, poses after being presented with the Angels Most Valuable Player award and the Nick Adenhart Pitcher of the Year prior to a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani kneels on second base after advancing from first on a single by Phil Gosselin during the third inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani rounds first on his way to a triple during the third inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, right, yells after sliding into third for a an RBI triple ahead of the tag of Seattle Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager during the third inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, right, slides into third for a an RBI triple ahead of the tag of Seattle Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager during the third inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Los Angeles Angels’ Brandon Marsh, left, collides with home plate umpire Alan Porter, center, as he scores on a triple by Shohei Ohtani during the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Los Angeles Angels’ Luis Rengifo, right gestures while scoring after hitting a solo home run as Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh stands at the plate during the second inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani drops his bat as he hits and RBI triple during the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani runs to first as he hits and RBI triple during the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Los Angeles Angels’ Brandon Marsh, left, collides with home plate umpire Alan Porter, center, as he scores on a triple by Shohei Ohtani while Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh stands at the plate during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani hits an RBI triple during the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Los Angeles Angels center fielder Brandon Marsh makes a catch on a fly ball at the wall that was hit by Seattle Mariners’ Mitch Haniger during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Los Angeles Angels center fielder Brandon Marsh, left, tosses the ball to center fielder Juan Lagares after making a catch on a fly ball at the wall that was hit by Seattle Mariners’ Mitch Haniger during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani stands on third after hitting an Rbi triple during the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, left, is safe at third for an RBI triple as Seattle Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager, right, drops the ball during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, left, is greeted by Luis Rengifo, center, and Patrick Sandoval prior to a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, center, is presented with the Angels Most Valuable Player award by team owner Artie Moreno, right, prior to a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. Ohtani also received the Nick Adenhart Pitcher of the Year award. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, left, is greeted by Luis Rengifo prior to a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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  Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Jaime Barria throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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ANAHEIM ― It began in the first inning of Thursday’s game against the Houston Astros. No one was on base when Luis Garcia walked Shohei Ohtani on four pitches, or again when Garcia walked Ohtani on five pitches later in the game. There was a runner on second base when Ohtani batted in the seventh, and again in the 10th, Ohtani drawing an intentional walk each time.

By Saturday it had become a running theme ― rather, a walking theme. No one knew when the Angels’ best player would get another good pitch to hit.

Ohtani drew two more walks in the Angels’ 14-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners, matching yet another major league record for free passes. This one matched Babe Ruth (1930), Bryce Harper (2016) and Yasmani Grandal (2021) for the most walks in a four-game span, with 13.

This time, his teammates brought their bats.

Rookie Brandon Marsh, batting one spot ahead of Ohtani in the leadoff hole, collected singles in his first two at-bats against Mariners starter Tyler Anderson. Each time, Ohtani followed with a triple. Neither Marsh nor Ohtani made an out until their fifth plate appearance of the game, in the sixth inning.

The player hitting behind Ohtani, Phil Gosselin, went 2 for 3 with four RBIs. The Angels’ number-6 hitter, Jared Walsh, went 4 for 5 with a pair of bases-loaded doubles.

That was more than enough offense to overcome an injury shortened start by Angels pitcher Jaime Barría. The right-hander was removed after two efficient, scoreless innings with an injury the team called “arm fatigue.” Barría has thrown 105 2/3 innings this season after throwing 32 1/3 in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.

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Rookie left-hander Jhonathan Diaz (1-0) took over in the third inning and, incredibly, finished the game by himself. Diaz allowed only one run over seven innings to earn his first major league victory. He became the 20th different pitcher to earn a win this season, tossing a remarkable 98 pitches in relief.

The Angels jumped out to a 3-0 lead, then chased Anderson by scoring eight runs in the third inning. Luis Rengifo hit a solo home run during the onslaught, the Angels’ only home run among their 14 hits.

Before an announced crowd of 30,221 at Angel Stadium, the Angels won their second game in nine tries on their final homestand of the season.

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[Angel Oracle]

Diaz can feel free to start next Saturday too.     Prevented this from becoming a bullpen game, albeit helped by the unexpected 14 runs explosion.

Seattle is now three back in the WC race with 7 to play.   Beat them tomorrow, and pretty much drop them out of it!

Ohtani’s OPS is back up into the mid .960s.

Edited September 26, 2021 by Angel Oracle

[ScottT]

Weird headline

[WicketMaiden]

Well, that was fun. Always nice to smash the Mariners and poke old Jerry in the eye. Same again tonight please Halos.