The Los Angeles Angels have become the kind of team that can beat even the “overwhelming” last place team in Major League Baseball (ML) if they can avoid Shohei Ohtani (29). It’s a bittersweet reality for the Angels, who have failed to reach the postseason for nine straight years.먹튀검증

Ohtani went 2-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout in his first major league at-bat in the No. 2 and designated hitter spots against the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday at Coliseum Stadium in Oakland, California, USA. That lowered his season batting average from 0.307 to 0.306 and his on-base percentage from 0.411 to 0.413.

It was a bittersweet game for the Angels and for Ohtani. Ohtani didn’t even get a chance to make a difference. He drew a bases-loaded walk in the first inning. Mike Moustakas singled and Luis Lengipo followed with a sacrifice fly to put the Angels on the board, but Ohtani was stranded at home.

After a grounder to shortstop in the third inning, Ohtani began to feel the pressure as Oakland took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth on Brent Rooker’s double to left-center field. In the top of the fifth, leadoff hitter Kairen Parris singled up the middle. She stole second, putting runners on first and second in front of Ohtani. However, the Oakland batter got Ohtani on a wild pitch and induced Brandon Drury to ground out to end the inning.

The A’s didn’t hesitate to make a pitching change. In the top of the seventh inning, with Oakland still leading 2-1, Paris and Shanyuel drew back-to-back walks to put runners on first and second. Oakland then switched mounds from right-hander Spencer Patton to left-hander Sam Long, and Long was up to the task, getting Ohtani to fly out to shortstop on two pitches.

In a frustratingly scoreless game for both teams, Ohtani didn’t even get a chance at the plate in his final at-bat. In the top of the ninth, with Oakland leading 2-1, the Angels led off with a walk to Michael Stefanik. Parise laid down a sacrifice bunt and Shanuel grounded out to advance Stefanik to third, bringing Ohtani to the plate.

However, the Oakland bullpen was able to retire Ohtani again and get Drury to fly out to center field to seal the 2-1 victory. Oakland’s Blackburn improved to 4-4 on the season with five innings of four-hit ball, three walks and four strikeouts, while Angels starter Griffin Canning improved to 5-7 on the season with six innings of four-hit ball, one walk, seven strikeouts and two runs. Ohtani added two wild pitches to lead the majors in that category.

Meanwhile, Oakland, which clinched the series with the Angels with its second straight win, improved to 41 wins (95 losses) on the season, but remained in last place among the 30 teams in the majors. The Los Angeles Angels remained in fourth place in the American League West with 64 wins and 72 losses.

September 3 Los Angeles Angels-Oakland Athletics starting lineups
Los Angeles Angels: Nolan Arenado (1B), Shohei Ohtani (designated hitter), Brandon Drury (2B), Mike Moustakas (3B), Luis Lengyepo (R), Mickey Moniak (CF), Logan Ohm (C), Trey Cabrera (L), and Kieren Farris (RF). The starting pitcher is Griffin Canning.

Oakland Athletics: Tony Kemp (left field), Zack Gelbrecht (second base), Ryan Noda (first base), Brent Rooker (designated hitter), Seth Brown (right field), Jordan Diaz (third base), Lawrence Butler (center field), Tyler Soderstrom (catcher), Nick Allen (shortstop). The starting pitcher is Paul Blackburn.