Shohei Ohtani struck out 11 over six dominant innings before coming undone in the seventh on Friday, giving up a pair of homers and six runs in the Los Angeles Angels' 8-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves.
With nine wins before the All-Star break, the two-way superstar was looking to become the first American or National league player with 10 wins and 10 home runs since Hall of Famer Babe Ruth in 1918.
Ohtani (9-5) held the World Series champion Braves to a single hit through his first six frames as he stifled their lineup with a dazzling array of pitches.
He fanned three straight batters on 11 pitches in the third at Atlanta's Truist Park, ending the inning when Ronald Acuna Jr. went down looking at a curveball.
The trouble started for the reigning American League MVP with the game still scoreless in the top of the seventh, when his command completely evaporated. He walked leadoff hitter Dansby Swanson before surrendering a two-run homer to Matt Olson.
Ohtani gave up RBI singles to Travis d'Arnaud and Eddie Rosario before another two-run blast from Orlando Arcia chased him.
"The (seventh-inning) leadoff walk hurt. With our team not hitting or scoring, I failed to do what was necessary to retire the leadoff hitter. That last inning was really my only regret."
Ohtani finished with 11 strikeouts and six runs on six hits and a walk over 6-1/3 innings. He went 0-for-3 and struck out twice batting leadoff as the Angels' designated hitter. He was hit in the left foot when batting in the top of the fifth, and started having more trouble finding the strike zone.
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