Shohei Ohtani hits 2 homers to lead Angels to wild comeback victory over Rangers
Shohei Ohtani hits 2 homers to lead Angels to wild comeback victory over Rangers
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The Angels trail by four runs in third inning, but they tie the score on an Ohtani homer in the seventh and take the lead on his two-run homer in the 12th in a 9-6 win. Ohtani has 20 homers, includ…
The Angels trail by four runs in third inning, but they tie the score on an Ohtani homer in the seventh and take the lead on his two-run homer in the 12th in a 9-6 win. Ohtani has 20 homers, includ…
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani flips his bat after hitting a solo home run to tie the score during the seventh inning of their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Angels starting pitcher Tyler Anderson throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon catches a pop fly during the first inning of their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tim Heitman/Getty Images)
Texas Rangers starting pitcher Dane Dunning throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Angels on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Angels starting pitcher Tyler Anderson walks to the dugout after the end of the first inning of their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani walks in the dugout during the second inning of their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Texas Rangers starting pitcher Dane Dunning throws to the plate during the third inning of their game against the Angels on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
The Texas Rangers’ Ezequiel Duran hits a three-run home run during the second inning of their game against the Angels on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tim Heitman/Getty Images)
The Texas Rangers’ Ezequiel Duran, front, celebrates his three-run home run as he rounds the bases past Angels first baseman Jared Walsh during the second inning on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
The Texas Rangers’ Ezequiel Duran runs the bases after hitting a three-run home run during the second inning of their game against the Angels on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
The Texas Rangers’ Ezequiel Duran (20), celebrates with Leody Taveras, left rear, Jonah Heim, center, and Josh Jung, right, after hitting a three-run home run during the second inning of their game against the Angels on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani fouls off a pitch during the third inning of their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
The Angels’ Taylor Ward slides home to score on a Mike Trout single during the third inning of their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Angels starting pitcher Tyler Anderson throws to the plate during the third inning of their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
The Texas Rangers’ Josh Jung follows through on a single during the third inning of their game against the Angels on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
The Texas Rangers’ Corey Seager sprints home, scoring on a Josh Jung single during the third inning of their game against the Angels on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Angels manager Phil Nevin, left, talks with first base umpire Lance Barrett during the third inning of their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Angels starting pitcher Tyler Anderson, left, and first base umpire Lance Barrett, center, have a discussion as first baseman Jared Walsh looks on during the third inning of their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Angels starting pitcher Tyler Anderson follows through on a pitch during the third inning of their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
The Texas Rangers’ Josh Jung, left, and Ezequiel Duran celebrate after Jung scored on a Mitch Garver double during the third inning of their game against the Angels on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Texas Rangers starting pitcher Dane Dunning throws to the plate during the fourth inning of their game against the Angels on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Angels starting pitcher Tyler Anderson, left, talks with first base umpire Lance Barrett before the fourth inning of their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Angels starting pitcher Tyler Anderson throws to the plate during the fourth inning of their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Angels starting pitcher Tyler Anderson throws to the plate during the fourth inning of their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani follows through on a sacrifice fly that scored Zach Neto during the fifth inning of their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Angels star Shohei Ohtani is congratulated in the dugout after driving in a run with a sacrifice fly in during the fifth inning of their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tim Heitman/Getty Images)
Texas Rangers relief pitcher Grant Anderson winds up to throw a pitch during the sixth inning of their game against the Angels on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Angels second baseman Brandon Drury, right, catches a fly ball hit by the Texas Rangers’ Marcus Semien over right fielder Hunter Renfroe during the sixth inning on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani hits a solo home run to tie the score during the seventh inning of their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani watches the flight of his solo home run to tie the score during the seventh inning of their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani watches the flight of his solo home run to tie the score during the seventh inning of their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Angels star Shohei Ohtani flips his bat as he watches the flight of his game-tying solo home run during the seventh inning of their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tim Heitman/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani runs the bases after hitting a solo home run to tie the score during the seventh inning of their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani gestures to his dugout while running the bases after hitting a solo home run to tie the score during the seventh inning of their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
The Angels’ Mike Trout, left, congratulates teammate Shohei Ohtani after his game-tying solo home run during the seventh inning of their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tim Heitman/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani is congratulated by teammates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run to tie the score during the seventh inning of their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
The Texas Rangers’ Josh Smith, front right, is tagged out at home by Angels catcher Matt Thaiss during the 10th inning on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, right, runs the bases after hitting a two-run, go-ahead home run during the 12th inning of their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani runs the bases after hitting a two-run, go-ahead home run during the 12th inning of their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Angels star Shohei Ohtani gestures as he begins running the bases after hitting a go-ahead two-run home run during the 12th inning of their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tim Heitman/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani runs the bases after hitting a two-run, go-ahead home run during the 12th inning of their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani celebrates as he runs the bases after hitting a two-run, go-ahead home run during the 12th inning of their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Angels star Shohei Ohtani celebrates in the dugout after hitting a go-ahead two-run home run during the 12th inning of their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tim Heitman/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani poses in the dugout after hitting a two-run, go-ahead home run during the 12th inning of their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Angels relief pitcher Aaron Loup, left, is congratulated by catcher Chad Wallach after the final out of their 12-inning comeback victory over the Texas Rangers on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Angels left fielder Mickey Moniak (16) and center fielder Mike Trout (27) congratulate each other after their 12-inning comeback victory over the Texas Rangers on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Angels manager Phil Nevin speaks to the media before their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
Angels star Shohei Ohtani, left, talks with shortstop Zach Neto before their game against the Texas Rangers on Monday night in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
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ARLINGTON, Texas — The Angels opened a key four-game series against the first-place Texas Rangers with a statement victory on Monday night.
After falling behind by four runs in the third inning, the Angels rallied for a 9-6, 12-inning victory on the strength of a pair of Shohei Ohtani homers.
Ohtani blasted a 459-foot homer in the seventh to tie the score and then he hit a two-run homer in the 12th to give the Angels the lead. Ohtani now has 20 homers, including five in his last nine games. Chad Wallach added a second two-run homer in the inning to provide a cushion.
The Angels (37-31) improved to six games over .500 for the first time this season, pulling within 5½ games of the Rangers and within one game of the Houston Astros for the third American League wild card spot.
“Coming into Texas, they’re in first place and all the boys are fired up,” Ohtani said through his interpreter. “It’s huge to get that first win in the four-game series.”
Any victory would have been nice for the Angels, but the way they won this game gave it a little extra weight.
They battled back from the early deficit and held off the Rangers through several key moments, with a string of relievers working scoreless innings and an outfielder making a game-saving play at first base.
“It’s a fun win,” starter Tyler Anderson said. “It was a crazy one, a wild one with guys in places they don’t play.”
Outfielder Taylor Ward was an infielder a few years ago, but he said it’s “been a while” since he worked out in the infield. He was forced into unfamiliar territory after Brandon Drury was ejected arguing a called third strike in the top of the 10th.
Manager Phil Nevin gave Ward a choice of playing third or first, with Gio Urshela going to the other one. Ward said he chose first because “of a gut feeling. Just felt better over there.”
Ward immediately had to handle a grounder hit to his right, and he stumbled, unable to make the play. That opened the door for the Rangers to have runners at second and third with one out.
Rookie Sam Bachman got a grounder to second baseman Luis Rengifo, who fired home for the second out of the inning. Marcus Semien then hit a grounder to shortstop Zach Neto, who bobbled the ball and then threw it in the dirt to Ward.
“I just kind of closed my eyes and stuck my glove out,” said Ward, who was able to secure the ball using Drury’s glove to keep the score tied.
The teams each came up empty in the 11th before Ohtani broke it open in the 12th, leading off the inning with his second homer of the game, and fifth homer in the past nine games.
“He’s on a nice little streak right now,” Nevin said. “It’s fun to watch when he gets into those spots. You can see him having a lot of fun too. You saw him on the home runs too, especially the second one. The emotion he’s showing. He cares about this group quite a bit and it’s feeding into all the players.”
Ohtani triumphantly flipped his bat after his game-tying blast to left-center field in the seventh, one that brought the Angels all the way back after a discouraging start.
Anderson gave up five runs in the first three innings, three of them on a homer by Ezequiel Duran on a pitch that was a couple of inches off the inside corner.
“It’s stupid to say but I thought I threw the ball pretty well,” Anderson said. “They’ve got a great lineup. It’s really hot right now and they’ve been playing really good baseball. For the most part, the pitches they hit were pretty good pitches, well executed. The three-run homer kills, but it’s a pitch that I was convicted in and executed. He put a good swing on it.”
Anderson gave up two more in the third, putting the Angels in a 5-1 hole, but then he and a string of Angels relievers shut down the Rangers to make the comeback possible.
Anderson got through the sixth. Chris Devenski, Jacob Webb and Carlos Estévez worked the next three. Estévez escaped in the ninth, stranding runners at second and third when he struck out Josh Jung and got Jonah Heim on a flyout.
Bachman then got through the 10th and 11th, with Ward’s help. That put him in position to pick up his first major league victory. Lefty Aaron Loup gave up an unearned run in the 12th, but he still finished off what has to be the Angels’ most satisfying victory of the season.
While Nevin was thrilled with “a really good team win,” he cautioned against getting carried away. He recalled the series when the Angels won four out of five last June in Seattle, which created good feelings that proved to be short-lived.
“Everyone talked about how big it was and within two weeks it was gone,” Nevin said. “There’s a lot of baseball to be played. But we’re measuring ourselves against some of the best in the league right now, and (the Rangers) certainly are, talent-wise, the manager, coaching, everything. They’re really good and we played a good ballgame.”
Shohei Ohtani ties the game and the AL home run lead! pic.twitter.com/Pl7j3whMjp
