Shohei Ohtani returned to the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday.
While it was a road game for the Dodgers, Ohtani was back in a familiar setting: Angel Stadium.
Wednesday marked his first time pitching in the stadium as an opponent. Before Wednesday’s game, he was 21-8 with a 2.22 ERA in 47 career starts at Angel Stadium, according to MLB Network.
Ohtani played for the Los Angeles Angels from 2018 to 2023.
The Japanese star continues to progress on the mound and isn’t expected to pitch more than five innings per start during the regular season. He did not pitch during his first season with the Dodgers in 2024 as he continued to recover from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.
Shohei Ohtani pitching performance
Ohtani allowed five hits and four earned runs, while striking out seven in 4.1 innings pitched on Wednesday against the Angels. He threw a season-high 80 pitches and had at least two wild pitches near the end of the fourth inning.
He came out in the fifth inning after Zach Neto hit a two-run double. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts went to the bullpen and called on Anthony Banda to replace Othani with just one out recorded in the inning.
Ohtani was not expected to pitch more than five innings and had not thrown more than 55 pitches in a single game before Wednesday.
Ohtani had impacted the game before he even took the mound, recording a leadoff triple before Mookie Betts hit an RBI single to bring him in to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead. The Dodgers extended their lead to 3-0 in the top of the first inning.
But Ohtani the pitcher had a rough start to the second inning, with Taylor Ward hitting a solo home run 375 feet to right-center field. The Angels scored two runs in the inning.
Ohtani, the reigning National League MVP, struck out former teammate Mike Trout twice, however.
The two-way star’s performance followed up his last outing against the St. Louis Cardinals on Aug. 6, in which he produced a season-high eight strikeouts. He pitched four innings, allowing just one run on two hits in a 5-3 loss.
During his seventh start of the season, Ohtani left the game during the middle of an at-bat after throwing six consecutive balls against the Cincinnati Reds. While the situation appeared concerning, he was not injured and was dealing with a cramp in his right hip.
Ohtani finished 1-for-4 at the plate and drew a walk on Wednesday. He had three strikeouts.
The Angels rallied to win the game 6-5.
