Shohei Ohtani struck out 11 punches for six dominant innings before collapsing in the seventh inning Friday, giving up two homers and six runs in the Los Angeles Angels’ 8-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves.
With nine wins before the All-Star break, the two-way superstar was looking to become the first player in the American and National Leagues to win 10 wins and make 10 home runs since Babe Ruth in 1918.
Ohtani (9-5) held the World Series champion Braves to just one hit through their first six innings, smothering their lineup with a dazzling array of pitches.
Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels throws against the Atlanta Braves during a baseball game at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia on July 22, 2022. (Essonne Info) ==Essonne Info
He knocked out three straight batters on 11 pitches in Game 3 at Atlanta’s Truist Park, ending the inning when Ronald Acuna Jr. lay down watching a curveball.
Trouble began for the American League’s most valuable player as the game was still scoreless early in the seventh, when his control completely evaporated. He walked leadoff hitter Dansby Swanson before giving up a two-homer homer to Matt Olson.
Ohtani gave up RBI singles to Travis d’Arnaud and Eddie Rosario before another two-run homer from Orlando Arcia chased him away.
Los Angeles Angels pitcher Shohei Ohtani is pictured after giving up a two-run home run to Matt Olson of the Atlanta Braves in the seventh inning of a baseball game at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia on July 22, 2022 .(Essonne Info) ==Essonne Info
“The walkoff (of the seventh inning) hurt. Since our team wasn’t hitting or scoring, I didn’t do the right thing to retire the first batter. This last round is really my only regret. »
Ohtani finished with 11 strikeouts and six runs on six hits and a walk over 6-1/3 innings. He went 0-for-3 and was struck out twice as the Angels’ designated hitter. He was hit in the left foot while at bat early in the fifth inning, and began to have more difficulty finding the strike zone.
