Coming off a stunning two-way performance at Boston's Fenway Park, Shohei Ohtani batted in the winning run Friday for the Los Angeles Angels in a 3-0 victory over the Washington Nationals.
Ohtani struck out 11 and hit 2-for-4 in the Angels' 8-0 demolition of the Red Sox on Thursday before flying home across country with his teammates for their interleague clash with the visiting Nationals.
Batting third as designated hitter, he put the Halos on the board in the first inning at Angel Stadium when his sharp groundout scored Taylor Ward.
The Angels added two more in the fifth on Mike Trout's double, after which the Nationals intentionally walked Ohtani to stop him swinging at right-hander Joan Adon (1-5) with two runners on.
Lefty Jhonathan Diaz (1-0) got the win following a five-inning start in which he struck out four, while issuing three hits and four walks.
With their third straight win, the American League West-leading Angels improved to 18-10, staying 1.5 games ahead of the second-place Houston Astros.
In San Diego, Yu Darvish (3-1) allowed two runs to earn the win as the Padres beat the Miami Marlins 3-2. Darvish struck out three, walked none and allowed five hits.
His seven innings mark the longest Darvish has gone in a game this season.
"My pitches had good movement, and my control was good as well," Darvish said after throwing 73 of his 97 pitches for strikes.
"It's not just the relievers who are tired, the position players are too. If we starting pitchers can't go deep into games at all, if we can't do our jobs, the team's morale is going to suffer."
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