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ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani hit an RBI triple in his first regular-season game at Angel Stadium, and he scored on Mookie Betts’ three-run home run in the 10th inning of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 6-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night.
Ohtani went 1 for 4 with his tying triple in the third inning after the two-way superstar received a warm welcome to the stadium where he shined for the Angels over the past six years. Ohtani won two AL MVP awards and a Rookie of the Year trophy while redefining what’s possible in modern baseball, but he couldn’t lead the long-struggling Halos to a winning season.
“The best part of all of this is that I get to play in this stadium in front of the Anaheim fans,” Ohtani said through his interpreter. “That was the most special thing for me. … The most important thing is that we win the game, and I’m glad we won.”
The Dodgers were already leading 3-2 in the 10th inning thanks to Miguel Rojas’ RBI single before the Angels intentionally sent their former star hitter on the run to get to Betts, who hit the next pitch from Roansy Contreras (2-4) over the fence on the left side.
“If Shohei does what Shohei always does, I understand their point of view,” Betts said. “So I was just trying to get a good pitch to hit.”
Ron Washington became the first opposing manager since 2016 to intentionally walk the batter in front of Betts, an eight-time All-Star and former AL MVP.
“You choose poison when you’re facing the first three batters,” Washington said. “I wasn’t going to let Ohtani swing there, and I have all the respect in the world for Mookie Betts. I was just hoping Contreras could make a pitch and get us a ground ball.”
Ohtani and Betts, who scored four runs, celebrated at home plate before the major league-leading Dodgers earned their 12th win in 15 games.
“It was still a big blow, but when another manager lets the player walk before you, you take it personally,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “I know Wash didn’t mean anything personal. It’s a good decision in baseball, but as a player, it motivates you.”
Ohtani received more cheers than boos from a sold-out stadium that included thousands of blue-clad Dodgers fans when he went to bat as the game’s first batter. The Angels didn’t pay him much tribute, simply releasing a graphic listing his greatest accomplishments with the franchise he chose as his first major league club in late 2017.
“Probably a little more enthusiasm than usual here,” Dodgers starter Walker Buehler said of the sold-out stadium. “We’re an hour away, but it’s a different situation for us.”
Michael Kopech (5-8) threw the ninth for the Dodgers.
Logan O’Hoppe and Taylor Ward hit home runs for the Angels, who failed to win three games in a row for the first time since July 24.
Angels relief pitcher Ben Joyce ended the Dodgers’ ninth inning by throwing out Tommy Edman with a 105.5 mph fastball, the third-fastest pitch thrown in the major leagues during the pitch-tracking era that began in 2008.
Reid Detmers struck out 10 and allowed three hits in six innings. The left-hander was in top form in his first major league appearance since June 1 for the Angels, who demoted him to the minors after months of inconsistency.
Walker Buehler allowed five hits and two walks in five innings for the Dodgers, showing slight improvement over his last four starts as he tries to secure a spot in their postseason plans.
O’Hoppe hit a 438-footer against Buehler in the second inning for his 18th home run, the most by an Angels catcher since 2008.
Ohtani’s third-inning hit got stuck in the right field corner, allowing Rojas to score from first base. Ohtani then strolled home on Betts’ single over a drawn-in infield.
Ward tied the game again when he hit his 20th home run of the season into the short porch in right field in the fifth inning, extending his hitting streak to 13 games, the best of his career.
Ohtani got on base with a runner in the eighth inning, but José Quijada struck him out with two high fastballs.
TRAINING ROOM
Dodgers: Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched two solid innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City in his return from right triceps soreness. … Brusdar Graterol (hamstring) made his first rehab appearance since his injury, throwing 15 pitches for Oklahoma City.
Angels: Washington had no update on Christian Moore, the first-round pick who left last Friday’s game at Double-A Rocket City with a leg injury.
Next
Griffin Canning (4-12, 5.19 ERA) takes the mound for the Angels in the series finale on Wednesday night against Bobby Miller (2-3, 7.25 ERA).
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
