Shohei Ohtani Rewards Angels' Decision to Go All-In With Best Pitching Performance of Career
There are few things Shohei Ohtani has not accomplished on a baseball diamond. After Thursday's performance, there's one fewer.
On Thursday, in the first game of a doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers, Ohtani did something he's never done in his MLB career.
He threw a complete game shutout, allowing just one hit and three walks while striking out eight. It took him 111 pitches to do it, and he helped move the Angels just 3.5 games back of the final Wild Card spot in the American League.
This dominant performance comes just hours after one of the biggest nights in recent history for Anaheim.
Early last night, it was revealed that the team would not be trading their two-way superstar at the deadline, and would instead try to make one last playoff push with Ohtani on their team.
While people were quick to judge that decision, just a few hours later, they silenced the doubters by acquiring the top starting pitcher on the market, Lucas Giolito, and a strong reliever in Reynaldo Lopez for their No. 2 and No. 3 prospects. They proved, once and for all, that they were serious about winning this season, and put their money where their mouth was.
Now, less than 24 hours later, Ohtani validated the Angels' thinking with the best pitching performance of his career, one that should provide a serious jolt to the rest of the Halos' organization.
This team has the pieces to make a run in the American League, and their 6-0 shutout in Detroit just proved it.
The Angels haven't made the postseason since 2014. They're inching ever closer to finally ending that MLB-leading drought — and they're doing it with and because of one Shohei Ohtani.
