Two-way star Shohei Ohtani pulled into a tie for the MLB home run lead Thursday, when his 22nd dinger helped secure his sixth pitching win in the Los Angeles Angels' 5-3 victory over the Texas Rangers.
Ohtani (6-2) allowed two runs on six hits over six innings while walking one and striking out three. He left the mound leading 3-2, and provided critical run support with a massive two-run eighth-inning home run.
It was the second straight day Ohtani launched an opposite-field bomb at Globe Life Field, this time slightly toward the center of the stand as Japan's World Baseball Classic MVP connected on Brock Burke's first-pitch slider.
"I believe results are coming my way as I'm steadily managing to hit fat pitches," said Ohtani, who went 1-for-2 with two walks and has six homers in his last seven games.
Ohtani allowed two runs in the third, when two-out doubles from Nathaniel Lowe and Adolis Garcia and a Jonah Heim single gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead. But that was the only inning where Ohtani allowed multiple hits.
The Rangers hit a number of Ohtani's pitches hard only to be denied hits by some outstanding defense from the Angels.
"I could at least set the tone against a team with strong offense," Ohtani said. "I suppose (my pitching) got a bit better. The opposing batters were aggressive early in the count and it was good that I could attack with my fastball."
"When things are going your way, you want to ride it. There'll always be ups and downs, but what's important is getting back to your norm as fast as you can when you have those downs. My pitching is not that great right now so I hope to be creative."
Yusei Kikuchi did not get a decision, meanwhile, as he allowed two runs on six hits over 4-2/3 innings in the Toronto Blue Jays' 4-2 loss against the Baltimore Orioles.
