Ohtani hurls 7 innings, hits RBI double, Halos top BoSox 5-3

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani pitched seven innings of five-hit ball and hit an early RBI double, leading the Los Angeles Angels to a 5-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night.

The Angels' multitalented All-Star selection yielded two runs and struck out four in another superb two-way performance against the AL-leading Red Sox, winning his matchup with fellow All-Star Nathan Eovaldi in their final mound starts before next week's game in Denver.

Ohtani (4-1) didn't walk a batter in his first mound start since a terrible outing last week at Yankee Stadium, where he walked four in the first inning. The start was also his first mound outing since he was voted an All-Star by fellow players as a pitcher in addition to his previous fan selection as a hitter.

Although he went 1 for 4 at the plate and failed to homer for the second straight game after hitting 14 in his previous 17 games, Ohtani still cracked a double in the first inning that drove in the Angels' first run.

Max Stassi hit a two-run homer and doubled and singled for the Angels, while David Fletcher went 4 for 4 in their fifth win in six games.

Raisel Iglesias gave up Hunter Renfroe's two-strike, two-out homer in the ninth, but finished strong for his 17th save.

J.D. Martinez drove in both of Boston's runs against Ohtani, but the Red Sox lost for just the second time in 12 games.

Eovaldi (9-5) yielded nine hits and five runs while pitching into the sixth inning for the Red Sox. The right-hander struck out nine, but the Angels matched the second-highest hit total against Boston's All-Star selection this season.

Ohtani looked comfortable again at Angel Stadium, where he has a 1.87 ERA in eight starts. He lowered his overall season ERA to 3.49.

Kiké Hernández ripped a double on Ohtani's third...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Ohtani-hurls-7-innings-hits-RBI-double-Halos-16297433.php