Shohei Ohtani exits early with stomach virus as Angels drop series to Tigers
DETROIT — Eduardo Rodriguez pitched five shutout innings in his return to the Tigers, helping Detroit to a 4-0 win over the Angels on Sunday.
“That’s the best result I could have gotten,” he said. “I came back and I helped us win a game. I wasn’t nervous, because I had some games in the minors. As soon I threw the first pitch, I was ready to go.”
The Tigers’ Riley Greene had a 448-foot homer on the first pitch he saw from Angels starter Shohei Ohtani (10-8) — the longest home run Ohtani has allowed in the majors, one that went over the out-of-town scoreboard in right-centerfield. Greene ended up reaching base four times.
“That’s a spot where you are looking for one pitch in a specific location, and that’s what he threw,” the rookie said. “It’s awesome to get the team off to a fast start, especially when you are facing a great pitcher like Ohtani.”
After jumping out to an early lead, the Angels struggle against Detroit starter Tyler Alexander and the Tigers bullpen in a 4-3 loss.
Ohtani left the game with a stomach virus after four innings, in which he allowed three runs on five hits and four walks.
“I didn’t feel well all day, but I wasn’t going to miss a game because I didn’t feel well,” Ohtani said through an interpreter. “My results weren’t good, but I think I just didn’t make the right pitches.”
Rodriguez (2-3) hadn’t pitched in the majors since suffering a rib-cage injury on May 18. He left the team after a June 9 rehab assignment to deal with family issues, and was on the restricted list until Friday.
“I expected him to be good — he had worked well in rehab and he told us he was ready,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said.
Detroit’s pitchers held the Angels scoreless in the final 15 innings of the series. Los Angeles had two on and two out in the third, but Greene made a diving catch in center to rob Luis Rengifo of at least one RBI.
“That’s a game-changing play right there,” Angels manager Phil Nevin said. “He makes that catch, and then Reyes takes one away from (Taylor) Ward at the wall when it was pouring. If it wasn’t raining, that’s over the fence.”
Patrick Sandoval allows four hits and strikes out nine over 97 pitches to carry the Angels to a 1-0 victory over the Detroit Tigers in Mike Trout’s return.
Ohtani retired the first two batters in the fourth, but walked Akil Baddoo and Greene before Victor Reyes made it 3-0 with a triple.
“That was my biggest mistake,” Ohtani said. “If I make one more pitch, I can finish with only one run allowed.”
Kody Clemens increased the lead to 4-0 in the fifth with an RBI double off Jimmy Herget.
Nevin said he will check with Ohtani before Monday’s game in Tampa Bay, but he expected him to play.
“We call him ‘Superman’ for a lot of reasons, but today showed he’s really human,” Nevin said. “He gets sick like the rest of us, but I’m sure he’s going to want to be right back out there tomorrow.”
Up next: The Angels open a four-game series in Tampa Bay on Monday. Tucker Davidson (2-3, 6.75 ERA) is scheduled to start the opener for the Angels against Jeffrey Springs (5-3, 2.32).
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