Offense at its lowest as Ohtani-led Angels drub Yankees 5-1

New York Yankees 1, Los Angeles Angels 5

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Shohei Ohtani showed off his skills in a unique way by hitting an RBI triple, which was followed by Mickey Moniak’s amazing two-run homer. Meanwhile, Patrick Sandoval showed off his throwing skills by holding the New York Yankees to just two hits until the eighth inning. So, the Los Angeles Angels won by a big 5-1 score on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium.

Moniak showcased his exceptional batting skills, accumulating three hits and driving in three runs for the Angels. This notable performance comes as a part of the team’s recent success, winning three out of their last four games following a challenging six-game losing streak. The victory against the Yankees marks their first series triumph since June 16-18 against Kansas City. As they strive to make significant strides in the AL postseason race this month, the Angels aim to demonstrate enough progress to warrant retaining Ohtani’s exceptional talents. Their current achievement puts them back at .500, a positive step in their journey.

Yankees muster only two hits

New York struggled to generate offense against Patrick Sandoval (5-7), with Gleyber Torres‘ third-inning homer being their lone hit until Anthony Volpe‘s one-out single forced Sandoval’s exit. The Yankees have faced a tough start to their post-break journey, going 1-4 and dropping both series in Denver and Anaheim.

G. Torres with a solo HR to cut the lead, we are still down 2-1.#RepBX #Yankees pic.twitter.com/cHALrtZhGL
— Pinstripes Nation (@pinstripesnat) July 19, 2023

Although Shohei Ohtani’s impressive streak of three consecutive games with a home run came to a close, the multi-talented superstar and current leader in major league homers showcased his prowess with a remarkable seventh triple of the season in the fifth inning. This impressive feat resulted in Zach Neto scoring all the way from first base, further highlighting Ohtani’s impact on the game.

After a 13-day hiatus, Sandoval made a remarkable comeback in his first start, showcasing a masterful blend of breaking pitches and changeups to near-perfection. With exceptional precision, he retired an impressive 22 out of New York’s 27 batters. His outstanding performance culminated in seven strikeouts, leading the Angels to their longest outing by a starter in three weeks. As he left the mound, Sandoval received a well-deserved standing ovation, a testament to his brilliance on the field.

The Yankees continue to struggle offensively, with no relief in sight during Aaron Judge’s extended absence. Since the AL MVP’s unfortunate injury at the beginning of last month, New York’s record has plummeted to 5-21. Remarkably, they have scored two runs or fewer in 14 games, with their offensive struggles reaching a new low. Their meager output was mirrored by their performance at the plate, as they mustered only two hits, matching a season-low. As a team, the Yankees currently hold the lowest batting average in the major leagues since Judge’s injury occurred at Dodger Stadium, standing at a mere 217.

Aaron Boone speaks following the Yankees' 5-1 loss to in Los Angeles. #YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/QIYc58ey8D
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) July 19, 2023

Yankees German goes astray

Domingo Germán (5-6) displayed his prowess on the mound, achieving an impressive nine strikeouts for the third time in his last four starts for New York. However, his outing was also marred by yielding five runs on four hits and three walks.

In the first inning, Moniak showcased his hitting prowess, launching his 11th homer of the season, thereby extending the longest hitting streak of his career to an impressive 10 games. Moreover, Moniak’s home run contributed to the Angels’ remarkable team streak, now standing at 17 straight games with a homer. They are now just one shy of matching the franchise record set back in August 1982.

In the third inning, Torres showcased his power, belting his 14th homer of the season.

During the third inning, Ohtani’s plate discipline resulted in the Angels’ third consecutive walk, loading the bases. Despite the pressure, German managed to limit the damage to just one run, with Michael Stefanic crossing the plate on a wild pitch.

Ohtani continued his impressive performance in the fifth, smashing a scorching triple with a bat speed of 110.5 mph. Shortly after, he dashed home, capitalizing on Moniak’s well-placed single.

UP NEXT

On Wednesday, Carlos Rodón (0-2, 5.23 ERA) is set to make his third start for the Yankees, marking an important milestone after being sidelined due to injuries for the first half of his debut season with New York. As for the series finale, Los Angeles is yet to reveal their starting pitcher. The anticipation remains high as the two teams prepare to face off.

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