Shohei Ohtani (29-LA Angels) had one of his worst days. Neither of his two pitches were good, and his deciding pitch was hit hard. 메이저사이트
Ohtani struggled in his start against the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB) 2023 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas, USA, on 3 March, giving up five runs on nine hits (two home runs) with six strikeouts and one walk in six innings. Ohtani suffered his second loss of the season (5-2) as the Angels fell to 2-6.
Ohtani gave up a run in the first inning. He got leadoff hitter Jose Altuve to ground out to third, but gave up an infield single to Jeremy Peña and an error by the third baseman to put runners in scoring position. He then walked Jordan Alvarez to load the bases, allowing Alvarez to score the go-ahead run from third.
After holding the Houston bats scoreless in the second through fourth innings, Ohtani faltered again in the fifth. After walking Peña and Alvarez to load the bases with two outs, Ohtani gave up a single to Alex Bregman.
It was painful to see the hard-to-hit “hack” hit. Ohtani has made a name for himself this season by throwing a sweeper, a pitch with significant lateral curve. The sweeper has become his signature pitch this year. The world of baseball is buzzing about it.
The problem is that the sweeper was targeted on this day. Houston hitters were going after the sweepers.
Three of the five hits they allowed in the fourth inning came on sweepers. It didn’t end there. Six of the nine home runs Ohtani has allowed this season have come on sweepers.
Ohtani reflected after the game. According to Japan Full Count, he said, “I think I came in with a thorough calculation. Everyone came in with a purpose, not just attacking each other. We need to change our pitches.”
Alvarez, who hit a two-run homer off Ohtani, said he came in looking for a sweeper, “I knew he throws a lot of sweepers.”
Manager Phil Nevin said, “I can’t say I should have thrown a fastball. It wasn’t the wrong pitch. It’s just a matter of pitch selection and delivery,” said Nevin, who hoped Ohtani could improve.
The Japanese full-count saw Ohtani’s splitter as the key, and he threw only four splitters out of 107 balls on the day. This was because his splitter was not working well.
“With wicket sweepers being targeted, Ohtani’s fortunes will depend on the revival of the splitter,” the media outlet said.