LA Angels’ Shohei Ohtani (29) was intensively checked with two intentional four pitches for two consecutive days.
Otani started as the second designated hitter in the 2023 Major League away game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Center in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on the 31st (Korea Standard Time) and succeeded in third base with one hit, one run, and two walks in three at-bats.
Following the match against Toronto on the previous day (30th), Otani, who had two intentional four pitches in two consecutive games, has maintained a season batting average of .32 (117 hits in 388 at-bats) with four consecutive hits.
Even with Otani under intensive checks, the Angels won 3-2 after a neck-and-neck race in extra time. Hunter Renfro’s final two-run home 안전놀이터 run in the 10th inning of extra time escaped a three-game sweep loss crisis in Toronto’s away game, and continued his postseason hopes.
Toronto hit the mark with two intentional four pitches and avoiding Otani
Ohtani stepped down with a fly ball to left field in his first at-bat in the first inning against Toronto right-hander Jose Berrios. On a two-strike disadvantageous count, he pushed a low changeup outside the third pitch but failed to fly far.
However, he opened the door with a hit in the third inning as the leadoff hitter. He pushed Verios’ second outer change-up to lead to a left-handed hit. The Angels, who continued a one-out full base chance with Mike Mustakus’ heavy hit and Matt Thais’ hit, scored the first run with Renfro’s sacrifice fly to center field. Third baseman Otani scored.
In the fourth inning with two outs and runners on second base, he walked to first base with an automatic four-ball. When the first base was empty, the Toronto battery did not play Otani. In the second and second bases with two outs, Mickey Moniac stepped down with an infield fly ball to third base, and Toronto’s operation succeeded.
In the seventh inning, he was grounded out to second base against left-hander Genesis Cabrera. He hit a slider for the sixth time in the full count game, but failed to cross the infield and was caught with a ground ball.
His last at-bat in the ninth inning was also intentional. Otani, who entered the first base with one out, picked up the first and second balls against left-hander Meiza. However, when the second pitch became a wild pitch, it became a runner on second base with one out, and the Toronto Battery once again sent Ohtani to first base with four intentional pitches. Otani had two intentional four pitches in two consecutive games. With two outs and runners on first and second, Moniac stepped down with a ground ball to first base and Mustakus with a ground ball to second base, the Angels again stepped down without scoring. Toronto’s “Avoid Otani” operation was successful both times.
The Angels were on the 10-day injured list after outfielder Taylor Ward, who was headshot by Alec Manoa’s ball in the fifth inning against Toronto the previous day (30th), was diagnosed with an orbital fracture. Ward is a center hitter with a batting average of .253 (90 hits in 356 at-bats) of 14 home runs, 47 RBIs, and OPS of .756 in 97 games this season. In July, he batted .34 (21 hits in 69 at-bats) with five home runs and 17 RBIs, OPS 1.047 in 20 games, leaving due to an unexpected injury.
The gap of Ward, the central hitter with the ability to solve, appeared intact in the Angels game. Starter Tyler Anderson pitched well with seven hits, one walk, two strikeouts and one run in 6⅓ innings, but he stepped down without winning or losing because he did not receive support from the batters. Until the ninth inning, he had no hits in 10 at-bats in the scoring area, leaving 12 left.
However, he scored the winning run with a home run in the top of the 10th inning of extra time. With no outs and runners on second base, Chad Wallak’s sacrifice bunt led to one out and third base. Renfro already hit Garcia’s second curve, which changed Toronto, and crossed the left fence. The 17th homer of the season.
Closer Carlos Esteves, who came up from the ninth inning, hit a timely RBI right-handed hit by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the bottom of the 10th inning, but maintained a one-run lead without any additional runs. After striking out George Springer and Cavan Vizio in a row at first and second bases with no outs, Danny Jansen’s well-hit ball became a straight hit to the left field, confirming the Angels’ victory.
The Angels, who won one game after two consecutive losses in three consecutive away games in Toronto, became 55 wins and 51 losses. The American League (AL) wild card ranked sixth, closing the gap with third-place Toronto (59 wins and 47 losses) to four games again, continuing its hopes for autumn baseball.