ANAHEIM, California — Shohei Ohtani left the mound with finger pain for the third time in a row on Friday night.
With him Angel Los Angeles In freefall and his future uncertain ahead of a trading deadline, the two-way superstar is grappling with a series of challenges even tougher than the blistering and cracking nails that are stopping him. prevent him from throwing the ball at his unique peak.
Ohtani made four runs with five hits and left the mound in the sixth round just before Mauricio Dubondouble-hit single in the award Houston Astros‘ 7-5 victory over the Angels.
Ohtani (7-5) was dragged after he walked Corey Julks for Friday’s opening, consulted with the Angels coaching staff before he left with nagging problems in his pitcher. Ohtani’s last game before the All-Star break came to an end because of a blister on his fingertips, and he also had a nail crack repaired last month.
“For the most part, things don’t go the way I want them to,” Ohtani said through his interpreter. “When I was on the mound, it was like that. …I really don’t think about my next outing. I’ll go to the field, see where my finger is, and go from there.”
Ohtani said “it’s hard to say” the severity of the injury.
“I feel frustrated to some extent,” Ohtani said. “It’s not just me, but I feel the same for the whole team. I think it’s only natural that we can’t win games that cause frustration to build up.”
Ohtani, who allowed the walk three times and beat seven, stayed in the game as a hitter and served two singles, but his Angels lost their highest six consecutive games. season and 10 out of 11.
“I just thought there was something wrong with the sixth inning,” Angels manager Phil Nevin said. “I saw something was wrong after he walked away (Julks), so I wanted to check on him, and he said his fingers were a bit sensitive. Didn’t open, didn’t break or anything. anything like that, but the best decision was to get him out then.”
After receiving cheers and global attention during the All-Star festival in Seattle, Ohtani returned to work in Anaheim amid big questions about his future in Orange County. The Halos’ pre-break slip has reduced their playoff chances and increased the likelihood that they will consider a trade in Ohtani, who will be a free agent this winter.
“Looks like he’s not really himself tonight,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said of Ohtani. “Don’t know if that blister still bothers him, but he didn’t throw some of the pitches he normally throws. Whenever you beat Ohtani five times, you’ve done well. But he doesn’t look like himself.”
After Ohtani left, the reliever medicine Jacob Webb allows Dubon’s single clutch and Jose AbreuRBI’s singles. Then, the Astros’ bullhead team won the All-Star break against the reigning World Series champions, with Ryan press fan Ohtani while attacking the ninth side for his 21st save.
Mickey Moniak had three visits and Taylor Ward home for the Angels, who removed Luis Rengifo from the game in the fifth inning immediately after the third player fouled and then failed to block it Kyle Tucker word scored the second word. Rengifo was pulled after a monologue conversation with Nevin.
“There are some things I just can’t stand,” Nevin said. “I don’t think he’s given his best effort, and he knows exactly what we’re talking about.”
Rengifo admits his mistake after the game – same too Mike Mustakaswho had poor handling on a late-round stroke before Dubon’s crack.
JP France yielded nine hits and two earned throws in fifth for Houston. Phil Maton (2-2) had two goals in the fifth half.
The Astros drew it in the fourth inning after loading bases on a hitter and two feet from Ohtani. Alex Bregman and Tucker then led the fifth inning with doubles to put Houston ahead.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
