ANAHEIM, Calif. — Shohei Ohtani’s Angels record 14th home run in June wasn’t enough to get past a six-run third inning by the Chicago White Sox.
The Japanese superstar broke the team’s one-month mark for home runs in the ninth inning of Los Angeles’ 9-7 loss Thursday with a two-run shot down left center after a slider by Kendall Graveman.
Ohtani surpassed his own mark of 13 hit homers in June 2021. He had shared the Angels’ record with Mike Trout (July 2019), Albert Pujols (June 2015), Mo Vaughn (May 2000) and Tim Salmon (June 1996).
The home run was Ohtani’s fourth hit in the four-game streak, and he extended his winning streak to seven games. On Tuesday, he became the first AL starting pitcher since 1963 to hit two home runs and at least ten strikeouts in the same game.
He leads the majors with 29 home runs and batting .309.
“That was a pretty good pitch on the outer part of the plate. He inspires you every day. It’s fun to watch,” said manager Phil Nevin.
Mike Trout – who was selected as an AL starter for the All-Star Game for the tenth straight year after the game – also found some joy in seeing Ohtani’s latest performance despite the loss.
Trout also provided some highlights of his own with three hits. He also made a jumping catch at the center wall in the fourth inning to take a solo shot from Andrew Vaughn.
“We’ll never see each other again and I get a front row seat to watch it from the circle on the deck. “It’s very special what he’s doing,” Trout said.
The White Sox rallied to break up the series after losing the first two games. It is the fourth time this season that they have scored at least six hits in an inning.
“I think if you told me you win two games in a four-game set, I’d tell you I’d like to win the last two,” manager Pedro Grifol said. “Leaving 2-2 after losing the first two games is great for us.”
I can tell you I’ll take the last two, they have a good ball club there, they beat us in the first two games and we find a way to win the last two, but even down here or at the beginning of the series an or two setbacks and here two setbacks.
Eloy Jiménez and Zach Remillard provided crucial hits in the third run with two-run singles, with bases loaded by Patrick Sandoval (4-7). Yasmani Grandal and Clint Frazier also had RBI hits.
“The early reaction there was enormous for us. That inning allowed us to go through the rest of the game,” said Remillard.
Lance Lynn (5-8) claimed his first win since May 26th. The right-hander allowed five runs from eight hits and hit seven in six innings.
“I made three mistakes and they left the stadium, which doesn’t usually happen. But today the offensive got runs and that didn’t kill us,” said Lynn.
Mickey Moniak, Mike Moustakis and Hunter Renfroe also hit home runs for the Angels, who were 0 for 9 and had runners on goal position.
“I want to win series at home. After you get the first two, you think you’re going to get one of the next two and have a nice streak, but we didn’t succeed,” said Nevin.
After Tim Anderson scored on a wild pitch from Sandoval in the top of the first half, Moniak equalized a solo right shot from Lynn’s fastball with his fourth leadoff homer of the season, which is AL’s best AL.
In the second round, the Angels extended their lead to 4:1 with the long ball. Moustakis led the inning with a drive to right field for his first home run with the Angels. The infielder and native of Southern California was acquired by the Colorado Rockies on Saturday.
Matt Thaiss followed up with a single before Renfroe landed a two-run home run down the left field line.
Chicago scored two insurance runs in the ninth run that would prove necessary in the end. Andrew Vaughn had an RBI triple and scored on Jacob Webb’s wild pitch.
BE TAKEN DEEP
Lynn leads the major league pitchers with 22 allowed home runs. He is the fourth White Sox pitcher in team history, along with Floyd Bannister (25 in 1987), Reynaldo Lopez (23 in 2019), and James Baldwin (23 in 1999), to have allowed at least as many pitchers before the All-Star Game has.
TRAINING ROOM
White Sox: LF and leadoff hitter Andrew Benintendi had a scheduled day off.
Angels: 3B Anthony Rendon (left wrist bruise) threw ground balls before the game.
NEXT
White Sox: Continue their road trip Friday in Oakland. The starting pitch has not yet been determined.
Angels: host Arizona for a weekend series. RHP Griffin Canning (6-2, 3.99 ERA) is 4-0 in his last six starts.