In an impressive display, Shohei Ohtani, the American League’s home run leader, smashed his 41st home run while rookie right-hander Chase Silseth continued his unbeaten streak in his fourth consecutive start. This pivotal victory allowed the Los Angeles Angels to secure a 2-1 win against the Houston Astros in the final game of their three-game road series on Sunday.
Shohei Ohtani Continues to Dominate
Breaking an eight-game spell without a home run, Ohtani revitalized the scoreboard by powerfully driving a 1-0 slider from Astros left-hander Parker Mushinski a remarkable 448 feet straight into center field. This clutch hit occurred with two outs in the sixth inning, extending the Angels’ lead to 2-0. Mushinski entered the game in relief of Astros starter Jose Urquidy (2-3) and inherited a baserunner. He efficiently induced a double-play grounder before Shohei Ohtani’s electrifying shot. Read more Sports Related News here.
Notably, this marked Shohei Ohtani’s first home run since the 5-3 loss to the Seattle Mariners on August 3rd.
Silseth Maintained his Streak
Meanwhile, Silseth (4-1), the talented rookie right-hander, maintained his strong performance streak. He skillfully managed to keep the Astros at bay, allowing only four hits and two walks while striking out five over five scoreless innings. Silseth’s resurgence as a key rotation player was further solidified by his recent accomplishments. With a 2-0 record, an impressive 2.04 ERA, and 26 strikeouts in 17 and two-thirds innings across his previous three starts, Silseth demonstrated his consistency once again on Sunday.
Silseth’s skill was evident throughout the game. He seamlessly retired the side in the first inning, deftly navigated around Chas McCormick’s single in the second, and masterfully avoided potential pitfalls in the third despite conceding a leadoff double to Grae Kessinger. Silseth’s strategy shone as he struck out Martin Maldonado and induced fly balls from Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman. A highlight was Randal Grichuk’s diving catch in left field, gracefully eliminating Altuve.
In the fourth inning, Kyle Tucker’s double and Jon Singleton’s walk briefly challenged Silseth. However, the Astros couldn’t capitalize on these opportunities. Their struggles continued as Yordan Alvarez grounded into a forceout with Altuve and Bregman on base, causing the Astros to be 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position against Silseth.
Astros’ pitcher Urquidy (2-3) displayed his prowess in his second start since returning from a three-month hiatus due to right shoulder discomfort. Over five innings, Urquidy allowed only one run on three hits while tallying an impressive seven strikeouts. His resilient performance was commendable, especially given his time away from the mound.
Urquidy encountered some difficulty in the third inning, conceding a pair of doubles. The first came from Eduardo Escobar, whose hit floated gracefully to left field, and the second was an RBI double by Mickey Moniak to right field.
Despite a run for the Astros as Singleton scored on a wild pitch by Angels reliever Jose Soriano in the sixth inning, narrowing the margin to just one run, the Angels’ bullpen showcased its prowess. Bolstered by exceptional pitching performances from Carlos Estevez, Reynaldo Lopez, and Matt Moore, the bullpen secured the win. Estevez, in particular, earned his 25th save with a flawless ninth inning.
Houston’s struggles with runners in scoring position were evident, as they finished the game 0-for-8 in this crucial aspect.