On Wednesday night the Angels made a move to bolster their rotation for the stretch run. Trading for White Sox right hander Lucas Giolito , Signaling to the world that any and all trade deadline calls asking for Shohei Ohtani will be hung up on. On Thursday Ohtani said thank you in a way never done before. Pitching a complete game One hit shutout in the top end of a double header then hitting not one but two blasts in the bottom end of the day's festivities. He won both ends of this double header by himself. He is the only player in MLB history to win the first game of a double header as a pitcher and hit a home run in the backend of that double header. Never mind two.
In game one Ohtani took the hill and the W, giving up one hit and striking out eight for the first complete game shutout of his career. Shohei didn't let a runner reach base until the fifth. Kerry Carpenter led off the inning with a single. This didn't phase the monster on the hill one bit as he sat him down getting Matt Vierling to hit into a 5-4-3 double play. That was about as exciting as the day got for Tigers fans. They as you all know by now lost 6-0.
In Game two Ohatani took his place as the DH batting second in the lineup. And in the second inning an opposite field bomb 385 feet into the left field seats of Comerica Park plating Zach Neto and of course himself. Ohatani was seen grabbing at his back as he rounded the bases. In the fourth inning Shohei came to the plate and worked himself into a 3-1 count. He had no intention of walking to first. Matt Manning grooved the best player in baseball a 94 MPH four seamer and Ohtani promptly grooved that 435 feet to dead center. Again he was seen grimacing in pain and Manager Phil Nevin pulled him from the game. The Angels went on to win 11-4. Okay so Ohtani didn't single handedly win the game he was just 2-3 with 2 RS and 3 RBI. but yea he won both of these contests.
What we are witnessing here is a multi-generational talent. Our grandparents and parents talked of the days of Sandy Koufax , Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio, Willie Mays , Jackie Robison . We talk about Yaz , Nolan Ryan, Rickey Henderson and Jim Rice. We watched Manny and Ortiz and Pedro usher in the 2000’s. Shohei Ohatani is the very best of all of these players. And I don't think anyone will ever see the likes of him again.
As always you can follow / give me grief @Tmurph207