Ohtani delivers on mound, at plate as Angels top D-backs 6-5

PHOENIX (AP) — Shohei Ohtani looked hurt, hobbling around home plate after fouling a ball off the inside of his right knee.

Turns out there wasn't much wrong. In fact, the two-way star just got stronger.

Ohtani struck out eight, hit two doubles at the plate and pushed through an injury scare to lead the Los Angeles Angels past the slumping Arizona Diamondbacks 6-5 in 10 innings on Friday night.

“When he’s faced with a dilemma, he turns up the dial,” Angels manager Joe Maddon said. “Love it. He knows exactly what he’s doing at all times, I mean exactly.”

Max Stassi's RBI groundout scored Jared Walsh in the top of the 10th to put the Angels ahead for good. Extra innings were needed after Arizona's Eduardo Escobar hit a two-out, tying homer off Raisel Iglesias (4-2) in the ninth.

Alex Claudio earned his first save of the season by getting the final out when Stephen Vogt struck out on a check swing with two on. Arizona lost its eighth in a row.

It was another big night for Ohtani following a few worrisome moments in the third inning.

Ohtani — who was batting second — fell to his knees and grimaced in pain after the foul ball that caromed hard off his knee. He eventually got up and limped around for a few minutes as he talked with the team’s training staff.

The 26-year-old stayed in the game and a few pitches later lined an RBI double to right center that came off the bat at 114.9 miles per hour. He also threw a fastball that hit 99.6 mph in the bottom half of the inning.

“It’s pretty stiff right now, but during the game I don’t feel like it affected me too much,” Ohtani said.

Added Maddon: “Pretty much a brilliant night for Shohei."

Ohtani gave up two runs on five hits and two walks in five innings. He ran into trouble on...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Ohtani-delivers-on-mound-at-plate-as-Angels-top-16243077.php