ANAHEIM -- With the Angels desperate for some momentum after losing nine of 10 to end the first half of the season, they turned to their ace and two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani in their first game out of the All-Star break against the Astros on Friday night.
But the same issues that had been plaguing them during their recent rough stretch came to the forefront yet again, as Ohtani struggled with his blister/fingernail issue and the Angels made several costly misplays and mental blunders in a 7-5 loss at Angel Stadium. Ohtani went five-plus innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits and three walks with seven strikeouts to fall to 7-5 with a 3.50 ERA in 18 outings. It marked the third straight outing that he left prematurely with head athletic trainer Mike Frostad because of an issue with his right middle finger.
“For the most part, things just didn’t go the way I wanted them to,” Ohtani said through interpreter Ippei Mizhuara. “It’s been like that on the mound the last couple outings.”
Ohtani, the front-runner for the AL MVP Award, exited after walking leadoff hitter Corey Julks in the sixth on his 94th pitch. The Angels thought his finger wouldn’t be a problem after some rest during the All-Star break but it continued to bother him on Friday. His velocity was down slightly and he gave up five runs for a second straight outing.
“I just thought something wasn’t looking right there in the sixth,” Angels manager Phil Nevin said. “After the walk, he mentioned his finger was a little sensitive. The nail didn’t break or anything like that, but I decided it was a good time to get him out.”
Ohtani, who is set to be a free agent after the season, could see his trade value impacted by his finger injury if it continues to be an issue. The Angels aren’t expected to trade him, although they’re expected to at least listen to offers, per MLB.com’s Jon Paul Morosi.
Ohtani said he’s felt the frustrations of his teammates, as they’ve fallen to two games under .500 at 45-47. But he noted he didn’t help the cause with his outing, especially in the fourth, when he lost his command and allowed two runs after hitting a batter and walking two more to load the bases with nobody out.
“I’m frustrated to a certain point,” Ohtani said. “Not just me. But I feel like the whole team is. I feel like it’s only natural when we can’t win games that the frustrations build up.”
It unraveled further in the fifth, when Ohtani gave up back-to-back doubles to Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker before Luis Rengifo made a costly error. Rengifo booted a grounder from Jose Abreu and then didn’t hustle after the ball, allowing Tucker to score and Abreu to reach second. He was approached by Nevin after the inning and was benched in favor of Eduardo Escobar.
“There are certain things I'm just not going to tolerate,” Nevin said. “I don’t think he gave it the best effort and he knew what I was talking about.”
Rengifo said he understood why Nevin took him out of the game and vowed to hustle next time if something similar happens.
“I think I can make a better effort on that,” Rengifo said through an interpreter. “And I can learn from that.”
The Angels started to get something going the next inning, tying the game after RBI singles from Mickey Moniak and Escobar. But Mike Moustakas grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Ohtani came back out for the sixth, but after walking Julks, he was replaced by Jacob Webb. After Webb walked Jeremy Peña, Martín Maldonado popped up a bunt to Moustakas at first, who had time to throw to third base or second base to start a double play. Instead, he took the easy out at first and Mauricio Dubón followed with a go-ahead two-run single.
“I fielded it and I didn’t make the right play,” Moustakas said. “I didn’t throw the ball to third or second. And I ended up costing us the game.”
They had another miscue in the sixth, when they had runners at first and second with nobody out but Michael Stefanic popped up a bunt attempt and Hunter Renfroe was doubled off second base. It ended a potential rally for the Angels.
“We were trying to get two back there,” Nevin said. “He popped it up. The fundamental stuff, we have to be clean with and we did not get one down tonight.”
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