The Chicago White Sox didn’t have a lot success slowing down Shohei Ohtani on the plate.
And they didn’t take full benefit of the few alternatives they needed to capitalize whereas hitting in opposition to him both.
The Los Angeles Angels two-way celebrity homered twice and struck out 10 Sox batters in 6 1/3 innings. The Sox bought the whole Ohtani expertise in a 4-2 loss to the Angels in entrance of 33,637 on Tuesday at Angel Stadium.
“He’s extremely talented,” Sox supervisor Pedro Grifol stated. “He’s probably the best player in the game, so he was tough to hit and he’s tough to pitch to.”
Ohtani homered to proper within the first inning in opposition to Michael Kopech. The Sox starter struggled along with his command, strolling seven in four-plus innings. But Kopech bought out of a few jams, notably within the second when two Angels had been thrown out making an attempt to steal second.
“Can’t give away that many free bases,” Kopech stated. “Whether the misses are close or not, it doesn’t really matter. I’ve got to get ahead of guys.”
Kopech allowed two runs on 4 hits with three strikeouts and the seven walks, exiting after surrendering a single and stroll within the fifth. He threw 102 pitches.
“His command wasn’t typical Kopech,” Grifol stated. “He usually limits walks. Today he had seven. The one factor he did was he restricted harm.
“He only gave us four innings, but he only gave up two runs. He didn’t have his command today. But he battled.”
Ohtani allowed one run on 4 hits with 10 strikeouts and two walks. He exited as a pitcher with a cracked fingernail.
“When he gets that slider going with that elite fastball it’s tough to crack him,” Sox third baseman Jake Burger stated.
The Sox had a scoring likelihood within the second after Eloy Jiménez led off with a double, the primary of three hits for the correct fielder. He moved to 3rd on a groundout, however Yasmani Grandal and Burger struck out.
Grandal singled with one out within the fifth, however was doubled up making an attempt to get again to first after Burger lined out to proper area.
An inning later, the Sox had runners on first and second with one out. Ohtani struck out Tim Anderson and Luis Robert Jr.
The Sox lastly broke by means of within the seventh, nevertheless it probably might have been extra. With runners on first and second and one out, Burger hit a grounder to the opening. Shortstop David Fletcher made an incredible diving cease and toss to 3rd for a pressure.
So as an alternative of batting with the bases loaded, Gavin Sheets got here up with two on and two outs. He singled in a run in opposition to reliever Jacob Webb, chopping the deficit to 2-1.
The Angels responded with two within the backside of the seventh, together with a solo homer by Ohtani off reliever Touki Toussaint.
Ohtani leads the majors with 28 homers, six in opposition to the Sox. On the mound, he’s third within the majors with 127 strikeouts.
He turned the primary participant with a multi-home run recreation by which he was the beginning pitcher since Zack Greinke on April 2, 2019, with the Arizona Diamondbacks at San Diego. And he’s the primary American League participant with a multi-homer recreation when serving because the beginning pitcher since Boston’s Sonny Siebert on Sept. 2, 1971, in opposition to Baltimore.
“He throws 100 pitches, comes out of the game and hits another home run, what he’s doing is pretty incredible when you see it with your own eyes,” Burger stated.
The Sox made a push within the ninth in opposition to reliever Carlos Estévez.
Jiménez doubled and scored on a single by Andrew Vaughn to get the Sox inside two runs. Singles by Zach Remillard and Burger loaded the bases with no outs.
But simply as rapidly because the rally began, it ended. Seby Zavala struck out and Elvis Andrus grounded right into a game-ending double play.
“We had a good opportunity there in the ninth,” Grifol stated. “I assumed Seby took some actually good swings. Just fouled a few balls off. Elvis bought behind within the depend there, making an attempt to place the ball in play, and hit it to the flawed spot. We need guys to place the ball in play and never strike out in these conditions. He did and hit it to the flawed spot.
“I was happy with our guys. They fought all the way to the end. Just a good performance on the other side.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com