Ohtani Carves Through Houston Astros' Offense, Javier Exits Early With 10 Strikeouts

The Houston Astros spoiled Shohei Ohtani's scoreless streak, but it wasn't enough to take a second game from the Los Angeles Angels.

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Shohei Ohtani continued to be the Houston Astros' kryptonite as of late in the Los Angeles Angels' 7-1 win Wednesday. The two-way phenom not only threw six one-run innings, but also ripped a two-RBI triple to grant the home team an early 3-0 lead.

Ohtani became the first Angels pitcher to hit a triple since Nolan Ryan on June 27, 1972, in Minnesota. The righty's brilliance on the rubber contributed to the Astros' second game 10+ strikeout game this season, per Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle.

Shohei Ohtani and Kevin Gausman are the only two starters this season to strike out 10 or more Astros. Ohtani's done it twice — tonight and on April 20. Gausman did it on May 1 in Toronto.

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) July 14, 2022

Although he punched out 12 batters over six frames, Ohtani lost his league-leading scoreless streak as Yuli Gurriel scored Kyle Tucker from second on a single to centerfield in the fourth.

Houston collected only four hits on the night — all off Ohtani. Stranding six runners, the Astros walked three times and struck only one extra-bat hit (Martín Maldonado's double).

Houston Astros Starting Pitcher Cristian Javier / Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Following two seven-inning appearances, Cristian Javier went back-to-back starts without hitting six innings of work. The righty struck out 10 batters Wednesday in the 11 outs he recorded.

Although he stymied much of the Angels lineup, Javier wasn't efficient. On 92 pitches through 3 2/3 innings, the righty tossed 54 of them for strikes, yielding three runs on five hits and three walks.

The 17-game road-game quality starts streak was snapped Wednesday, but the Angels' early damage didn't stop after the second inning. Bryan Abreu ballooned his ERA by nearly 1.00 in relief, given the hook by manager Dusty Baker after two outs on 34 pitches.

After striking out Brandon Marsh, Abreu surrendered back-to-back singles and a walk to load the bases for red-hot Luis Rengifo. Roping a two-run single to left field, Rengifo's insurance put the Angels up 5-1.

Abreu struck out Jared Walsh for the second out of the bottom of the sixth, but Jo Adell and Jonathan Villar continued to fuel the fire with RBI-singles. The run parade stopped there after the Angels had collected four runs in the sixth.

The Astros fall to 57-30 with an 11-game lead on the Seattle Mariners in the American League West. The Mariners are on a 10-game win streak behind stellar pitching from their rotation.

Houston looks to take the series in Anaheim at 7:07 p.m. Thursday. A lefty duel, Framber Valdez battles on the hill with Reid Detmers.

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