Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani is making so much history that it’s getting harder to even keep up with it.
In Monday’s game (Tuesday in Manila), Shohei Ohtani became the first starting pitcher since 1964 to reach base five times in a game as the Angels beat the Baltimore Orioles 9-5. Ohtani had four hits and a walk, making up for his pitching struggles with a stellar performance at the plate. He hit a titanic three-run homer and finished a double shy of the cycle.
As OptaSTATS noted on Twitter: “Nobody reached base more times today (via H, BB or HBP) than the @Angels’ Shohei Ohtani (5). Neither did anyone pitch more innings (7.0). No other player in the live-ball era (since 1920) has led MLB in both categories (outright or tied) on a day with at least a dozen games.”
On the mound, Ohtani struggled a bit against the powerful Orioles lineup. Even though he got the win and went the seven innings, he gave up five earned runs and surrendered three homers. But he dealt a lot of damage with the bat, which helped his own cause.
With two men on, one out, and the score tied 4-4 in the top of the fourth, Orioles starter Grayson Rodriguez threw an 80 mph breaking ball on the first pitch. It found the middle of the plate, and Ohtani made the most of the offering by launching the ball to right-center field.
The ball traveled over the fans and bounced off the top of the fence on the exterior of the park. Ohtani cleared the bases and crossed home plate, where his teammates adorned him with the Samurai warrior helmet that has become the signature of his home-run celebrations.
The home run was Ohtani’s ninth of the season and raised his RBI tally to 29. It gave the Angels a 7-4 lead and was one of the hardest-hit balls in MLB this season. Per Statcast, the 114.6 mph exit velocity rates as the 15th-hardest home run of the season. The ball traveled 456 feet, making it the 14th-longest home run of the season.
“I’m sure all those records come because the sample size is so small, so I don’t really look too deeply into it,” Ohtani said through a translator.
The sample size of players who can hit and pitch like this is very small, and that is exactly why Ohtani is such a marvel. The last person to reach base five times in a game after starting on the mound was Mel Stottlemyre of the New York Yankees, on Sept. 26, 1964, against Washington.
“He’s a once-in-a-generation player. Once in a lifetime, really,” Orioles infielder Adam Frazier said. “Special guy and I’m glad to say I can compete against him because it’s fun. He brings out the best in everyone.”
