The Angels’ two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani couldn’t beat a Pittsburgh Pirates rookie, who smashed him to two solo home runs on Friday. In a remarkable display of talent, outfielder Henry Davis achieved a rare milestone to become the sole player to hit Shohei Ohtani for two homers in a game.
In an extraordinary display of power, the 2021 MLB Draft managed to hit his first home run to left field off Shohei Ohtani. Henry Davis followed it with a second that traveled to the right-center over the powerful wall. Remarkably, this historical game occurred in only his 27th MLB appearance. These two home runs bring his career total to four, showcasing his ability to take on the challenge of facing Shohei Ohtani and emerging successful.
Despite Henry Davis’ impressive performance, the Pirates couldn’t secure a victory against the Angels, losing 8-5. With a season record of 42-55, the team finds itself at the bottom of the NL Central and ranks 24th out of 30 teams in the league.
Henry Davis first to hit two homers off Shohei Ohtani
Among the players who have managed to hit multiple home runs against Shohei Ohtani are Matt Chapman, Jarred Kelenic, Nathaniel Lowe, Cedric Mullins, Anthony Santander, and George Springer. Nevertheless, their combined total against Shohei Ohtani remains at two homers, with none of them achieving more than one in a single game.
In his 82nd career MLB start, Shohei Ohtani faced some challenges, giving up five runs in 6 1/3 innings. Remarkably, this marks the third consecutive start in which he has allowed five runs, resulting in a season ERA of 3.71. Notably, Shohei Ohtani has been coping with a cracked nail and blister, which could have influenced his recent performances.
Despite grappling with ongoing injuries, Shohei Ohtani displayed resilience and secured the victory, recording nine strikeouts and elevating his season record to 8-5. The Angels have found their stride, with four consecutive wins, propelling them to two games over .500 once again.
As of now, they hold a 50-48 record and trail by eight games in the American League West. As for the wild card race, they are currently 4.0 games behind in the pursuit of securing a spot.
Shohei Ohtani a likely trade candidate
As the trade deadline looms within the next two weeks, the Angels face a crucial decision regarding Shohei Ohtani’s future. Each win they secure brings them closer to playoff contention, potentially influencing their choice to keep him or consider a trade.
Trade discussions surrounding Shohei Ohtani, the remarkable two-way superstar and former AL MVP, have escalated significantly since the start of the season. Additionally, with his contract set to expire this offseason, any team considering a trade for him must weigh the possibility of acquiring a rental player, as he could become a free agent if he chooses not to re-sign with the team.
In the 2017-2018 offseason, the New York Yankees made a push to acquire the Japanese sensation. However, their endeavors were in vain as Ohtani expressed a preference for playing with a small market team on the west coast, as revealed by the Yankees‘ General Manager, Brian Cashman.
The team’s interest in acquiring Shohei Ohtani remains, should he choose to join a west coast team. As the season unfolds, it remains uncertain whether the Angels’ performance will be strong enough to persuade Ohtani to stay beyond the August 1 trade deadline.
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