Ohtani Powers Angels Past Boston, Breaks 14-Game Losing Streak

Pitching Gem And 2 Run Home Run Made The Difference

Ohtani dons the HatPinterest

Ohtani carries Angels to first win in 15 games

Shohei Ohtani broke the franchise-record 14-game losing streak on Thursday. All it took was a two-run homer and about 100 pitches. The final score was Angels 5 and Red Sox 2.

Ohtani spun a 4 hitter in seven strong innings, giving up one earned run and two walks. He struck out six.

His two-run homer in the fifth inning gave the Angels the lead. They never looked back.

Andrew Velasquez sent a rocket to the right-field stands in the sixth breaking his own 0-22 streak at the plate. His three-run line-drive homer put the Angels up 5-1.

Solid bullpen performances from Ryan Tepera and closer Reisel Inglesias sealed the win.

Looking back on the last three weeks, injuries to Trout, Ward, and Rendon did not help the Angels at all. Second base defensive wizard Fletcher remains out recuperating from a hip injury. Joe Maddon was a casualty of the losing streak when he was fired and replaced with third base coach Phil Nevin two games previous. Nevin took the reigns after years of managing in the minors and a stint with the Yankees.

The Angels sorely needed this win. Ohtani carried the team, and a sense of determination was noted by Nevin saying to pitching coach Matt Wise, "He's got that look, doesn't he?"

It was a performance only Ohtani could deliver, a dominant pitching performance in the face of a disastrous 14-game schneid and a ball over the center-field fence.

Injured Mike Trout summed it up. "Shohei was unbelievable," Trout said. "As always."