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Phillip Peters/ALOST

akoiki-passport2 – by Adesina O. Koiki
A Lot of Sports Talk editor-in-chief

BALTIMORE — Shohei Ohtani had one of his roughest starts of the season on Monday night, yet he benefited from an Angels offense that bailed him out and allowed him to get the win on the mound. Of course, the star man on offense that Ohtani has to thank for bailing him out is the person staring back at him in the mirror.

Ohtani launched a 456-foot home run in the fourth inning, part of a 4-for-5 night at the plate, in helping the Los Angeles Angels defeat the Baltimore Orioles 9-5 in the first of a four-game set inside Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Led by his own offense, Ohtani was able to pitch seven innings while allowing five runs, giving the Angels’ bullpen a short night while wearing out the Orioles pitching staff at the plate.

Ohtani came up only a double short of the cycle, and he became the first starting pitcher to reach base safely five times in a game since the Yankees’ Mel Stottlemyre had five hits in a game against the Washington Senators in September 1964.

“I’m sure all those records come because the sample size is so small,” Ohtani said, through an interpreter. “So I don’t really look too deeply into it. But today I had a bad beginning of the game, giving up those runs. So that was the thought about the game today.”

*Editor’s note: Above the byline is the photo gallery from Monday evening’s contest, with all photos taken by DC-area photographer Phillip Peters. After clicking on the first photo to enlarge the picture, make sure to press the left and right arrow buttons to scroll through the rest of the pictures. There are 37 pictures in total.

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Tags : Baltimore OriolesLos Angeles AngelsMajor League BaseballShohei Ohtani

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