Los Angeles Angels’ two-way Superstar Shohei Ohtani dazzled the sports world in back-to-back doubleheader games Thursday, throwing a nine-inning shutout in the first game and hitting two home runs in the second.
Ohtani impressed in the first game against the Detroit Tigers, throwing eight strikeouts and only allowing one hit across nine innings. This performance alone would cement Ohtani in the history books as the first player ever to throw a shutout in the same season he hit 12 or more home runs, according to CBS Sports. (RELATED: Chaotic MLB Game Leads To Wild Brawl, Man Getting Jumped And A Hospital Visit)
Shohei Ohtani. Shutout! 🍾 pic.twitter.com/1oVWrqL5mR
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 27, 2023
Then in the second inning of the second game, Ohtani bombed a 2-run opposite-field-homer for his 37th of the year.
He throws a complete game shutout in game one and homers in game two! SHOHEI IS OUT OF THIS WORLD pic.twitter.com/EwWxZ3Mx4x
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 27, 2023
Before we could all take a breath, Ohtani bombed another 435-foot-homer in the fourth inning for his league-leading 38th home run of the season and second of the day. Absolute insanity.
SHOHEI OHTANI HAS DONE IT AGAIN pic.twitter.com/ScsperHy2k
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 27, 2023
With his performances, Ohtani became the first player in history to throw a shutout in one game of a doubleheader and hit one–let alone two–home runs in the other, according to ESPN. Further, his 38 home runs on the season place him back on track to break the American League home run record set just one year ago by New York Yankee Aaron Judge.
“We try not to take for granted what we have in him,” Angels Manager Phil Nevin said, according to ESPN, “Hate to say that you expect greatness every day, but it’s what we get. It’s awesome to watch.”
Ohtani left the second game due to cramping, according to Angels’ PR.