OAKLAND, California – Shohei Ohtani failed to record an out on the two-star star’s expected return to the mound for the Los Angeles Angels, allowing Oakland’s first six hitters to reach base before their day ended in a 6- Loss. 4 against Athletics on Sunday.
The Japanese right-hander abandoned Marcus Semien’s opening single and three walks in a row before a visit to the mound and Mark Canha’s two-run single. Robbie Grossman singled in another run, and Angels manager Joe Maddon replaced Ohtani (0-1) with Matt Andriese 4-0.
The Angels wasted a great day on Mike Trout, who hit a three-run homer in the third and a sacrifice fly in the fifth. David Fletcher finished with four hits.
Yusmeiro Petit (1-0) solved a jam in the fifth inning in relief from Mike Fiers for the win, and Liam Hendriks earned a four-out save after missing an opportunity in Friday night’s 10-inning win.
This was a long time in coming for the Angels and 2018 American League Rookie of the Year Ohtani, who took visible deep breaths between pitches. Ohtani made his first appearance on the mound since September 2, 2018 after failing to pitch last season after Tommy John’s surgery.
Ohtani threw 30 pitches, hitting 94.7 mph with his fastball – averaging 96.7 mph and hitting 100 mph in 2018.
He is expected to be Sunday’s starter for the Angels this season and had no pitch limit. Maddon insists that he has invested in Ohtani being a rare two-way player so it also means for fans in Japan who have supported his quest. It will also ensure that Ohtani stays healthy first.
“I am looking forward to the day when we can be a little more aggressive with him. I know he is, too,” Maddon said before the game.
Ohtani hit last season, but didn’t pitch when he regained his arm strength after surgery. He was 4-2 with a 3.31 ERA in 10 starts and 51 2/3 innings in 2018 as a rookie.
Fiers delivered consecutive singles to Fletcher and Trout to start the game before earning three consecutive flyballs.
This was Fiers’ first outing since he revealed to The Athletic in November that his former Houston Astros club had stolen posters with a camera in center field during his run to the 2017 World Series championship.
The right-hander pitched his second no-hitter last season and went 15-4, then missed the ball with an AL joker loss to Tampa Bay when manager Bob Melvin went with left-hander Sean Manaea.
COACH ROOM
Angeles: The new 3B Anthony Rendon did a training on the field. He could be used as an initially designated hitter once healthy to play after dealing with an oblique injury. “DH is open. He may be able to DH first, I can’t deny that,” Maddon said.
UNTIL NEXT TIME
RHP Griffin Canning kicks off the engulfing series finale Monday afternoon against Oakland RHP Chris Bassitt, who is in the rotation for now with left-hander AJ Puk offside for a tight shoulder.
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