OC Register: Shohei Ohtani pitches well but Angels lose in final home game of the season

[AngelsWin.com]

ANAHEIM — Shohei Ohtani unleashed a 99.2 mph fastball and pumped his fist as Jake Bauers tipped the pitch into the catcher’s glove for a strikeout.

Ohtani then strutted off the mound with another strong seven innings in the book, stepping into the Angels dugout as he was greeted with a brief standing ovation.

While there was still a game left to be determined — one that the Angels lost 5-1 to the Seattle Mariners on Sunday after the bullpen gave up four runs in the eighth — there was nothing left to see in the story that had so captivated Angels fans throughout 2021.

Ohtani’s remarkable season as baseball’s only two-way star came to its’ Angel Stadium close with a 10-strikeout, zero-walk performance. Ohtani gave up only one run, on a seventh-inning homer by Jarred Kelenic, and he left the game in a 1-1 tie.

It’s unclear if that was Ohtani’s final start of the season, or just his final home start. He could start the season finale next Sunday in Seattle if he feels strong and wants to pitch again. The Angels could also decide that he’s done more than enough and let him head into the winter with this as the period on his year as a pitcher.

Ohtani started 23 games, posting a 9-2 record and a 3.18 ERA. In 130-1/3 innings, Ohtani struck out 156 and walked 44. He became the first Angels pitcher to reach 150 strikeouts since Andrew Heaney in 2018.

His outing on Sunday was his eighth of the season without a walk, which is a dramatic turnaround from the 19 walks he issued in 18-2/3 innings in his first four starts.

Ohtani only had two tight spots throughout this game.

Ohtani gave up a single to Mariners leadoff hitter J.P. Crawford at the end of a 10-pitch duel to start the game, but then he retired the next 12 in a row.

With runners at first and second and one out in the fifth, Ohtani got Tom Murphy and Bauers on fly balls to left field. In the sixth, Ohtani hit Ty France with a 1-and-2 pitch and then gave up a single to Kyle Seager. He struck out Mitch Haniger and got Abraham Toro on a flyout to escape the jam on his 98th pitch.

At that point Ohtani had a 1-0 lead and it looked like his day may be over, but Manager Joe Maddon sent him back for one more inning.

Ohtani gave up a the homer to Kelenic on a hanging slider, then he retired the next two to finish his day on a high note.

Unfortunately for the Angels, they couldn’t do the same.

Relievers José Quijada and Austin Warren combined to give up four runs in the eighth, breaking open the game.

The loss also guaranteed the Angels their sixth straight losing season, which is the franchise’s longest such streak since a run of seven straight losing seasons from 1971-77.

More to come on this story.

Related Articles

• Jaime Barria’s up and down season with Angels ends with shoulder injury
• Shohei Ohtani gets plenty of help in Angels’ blowout win
• Angels’ Mike Trout felt ‘relieved’ after deciding to end his 2021 comeback
• Shohei Ohtani walks 4 times in Angels’ loss as Mariners avoid slugger
• AJ Ramos returns to MLB with Angels after season at Triple-A

View the full article

[ukyah]

congrats to ohtani, but an embarrassment otherwise.