Shohei Ohtani satisfied with second outing but Angels lose to White Sox
THE GAME: The Angels gave up five runs in the second inning, all charged to Shohei Ohtani, and lost 6-5 to the Chicago White Sox in a Cactus League game on Saturday at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz. It was the Angels’ first nine-inning game of the spring.
PITCHING REPORT: Ohtani recorded seven outs over parts of three innings in his second outing of the spring. He was pulled with two outs in the second and two runs in, and all three runners he left on base came around to score. He returned to get the first two outs of the third. Ohtani threw 58 pitches, and his fastball sat at 96-99 mph, peaking during the final batter he faced, a strikeout. Ohtani struck out four, including reigning MVP Jose Abreu. “Overall I felt really good,” Ohtani said through his interpreter. He said he was happy with his increased use of his curve, and also with the fastballs he threw once runners were on base. He said he needs to work on getting the first hitter. “I haven’t pitched in a while because of my surgery and rehab, but up to this point I’m really satisfied with how the spring’s been turning out.” … Left-hander Alex Claudio pitched a scoreless inning in his first appearance of the spring, after being slowed early in camp with a hip infection… Right-hander Chris Rodriguez, one of the Angels top pitching prospects, worked two scoreless innings, ringing up Abreu for one of his two strikeouts. He struck out both hitters he faced in his first game, but then he was hit hard in his second. … Left-hander Reid Detmers gave up a homer in his inning.
HITTING REPORT: Juan Lagares ripped a double off the center-field fence, driving in the first run of the game. Lagares also narrowly missed another extra-base hit with a flyout to the warning track. Lagares is 8 for 16 this spring. He and Jon Jay (2 for 17) are the top contenders for backup outfield spot. … Luis Rengifo and Jared Walsh each had a sacrifice fly. Rengifo’s was a drive snagged by Eloy Jimenez with a leap at the fence. The White Sox then turned it into a double play when Taylor Ward tried to take second, but Franklin Barreto had gone back to the second. Ward had to retreat and he was tagged out. … Brandon Marsh lined an RBI single in the ninth. Marsh then broke too early when trying to steal second and he was easily retired in a rundown, depriving the Angels the chance to drive in the tying run with an out. Matt Thaiss then struck out to end the game.
DEFENSE REPORT: Center fielder Jo Adell slammed hard into the wall after failing to come up with a catch on a drive into the gap. Adell was removed from the game for precautionary reasons, the Angels said. … Second baseman Jose Rojas had to make an acrobatic catch while keeping his foot on the bag when Rengifo, the shortstop, made a throw behind him.
UP NEXT: Angels at Chicago Cubs, 1 p.m. PT, Sunday, Sloane Park, Mesa, Fox Sports West, 830 AM.
This post first appeared on ocregister.com
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