Ohtani strkes out 10, A's beat Angels 3-2, stay in WC race

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) —

Shohei Ohtani struck out 10 but went winless in consecutive starts on the mound for the first time since June, and the Oakland Athletics rebounded from a bullpen meltdown to beat the Los Angeles Angels 3-2 in 10 innings Sunday.

Jed Lowie hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the 10th off Raisel Iglesias (7-5), and Oakland won its fifth straight to remain within two games of Toronto for the second AL wild card. The A's closed within a half-game of the New York Yankees.

Oakland will finish with a winning record in four straight years for the first time since 1999-2006. The A’s completed a three-game sweep and went 15-4 against the Angels, their most wins against them in a season.

Ohtani, a two-way sensation, allowed two runs and five hits in eight innings with three walks. He tied a season high for strikeouts, reaching double digits for the first time since June 4.

Yan Gomes' second-inning home run and Matt Chapman's drive in the fourth built a 2-0 lead against Ohtani, who has allowed 14 home runs this season.

Oakland loaded the bases with one out in the eighth on two walks and hit batter. With the crowd chanting “M-V-P!” Jed Lowrie popped out and Chapman struck out.

With two pitching starts likely in the remainder of the season, Ohtani is 9-2 with a 3.28 ERA and 146 strikeouts in 123 1/3 innings along with 44 walks.

He was 0 for 2 with two walks — one intentional — at the plate while batting second. Ohtani is hitting .257 with 44 homers and 94 RBIs, third in home runs behind Toronto's Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (46) and Kansas City's Salvador Perez (45).

Jose Rojas tied the score in the ninth off Sergio Romo, who blew a save for the fourth time in seven chances. Rojas singled in a run, and a second run scored when right field Seth Brown bobbled the ball...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Ohtani-strkes-out-10-A-s-beat-Angels-3-2-stay-16471720.php