The Los Angeles Angels defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-5 on Wednesday night, securing a three-game sweep over the defending world champions. This marked the second time this season the Angels have swept the Dodgers, improving their record to 59-62.
Shohei Ohtani, pitching against his former team, had a mixed outing by going 1-for-4 at the plate, including a triple, while striking out three times. On the mound, he allowed four earned runs on five hits through 4.1 innings but managed to strike out seven batters without issuing a walk. This performance leaves Ohtani’s season ERA at 3.47.
Highlight Moment: Ohtani Strikes Out Mike Trout with a 101 mph Fastball
Among Ohtani’s achievements during the game was a remarkable strikeout of former teammate Mike Trout, achieved with a pitch that clocked at 101 mph. This feat instantly caught the attention of baseball fans due to the ongoing narrative between the two stars.
“Shohei Ohtani’s fastest pitches for strikeouts in MLB & WBC:3/16/23: 102.0 mph (Pasquantino)9/10/22: 101.4 mph (Tucker)6/9/22: 101.0 mph (Devers)7/6/22: 100.9 mph (Stallings)Today: 100.7 mph (Trout)3/30/23: 100.7 mph (Laureano) https://t.co/Xh5PkBtCos” —Sarah Langs, MLB.com Analyst
This pitch ranked among Ohtani’s fastest strikeout deliveries in Major League Baseball and the World Baseball Classic. The 101 mph strikeout of Trout follows closely behind his top speed strikeouts, including a 102 mph pitch to Pasquantino on March 16, 2023, and several others over 100 mph recorded in previous seasons.
Recollection of the Iconic 2023 World Baseball Classic Finale
The strikeout of Mike Trout by Ohtani brings to mind their historic duel in the final game of the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC). With two outs in the ninth inning, Ohtani struck out Trout to clinch the championship for Team Japan, delivering Japan its third WBC title ever. This shared history adds a significant layer to their matchup in this MLB game.
During Wednesday’s game, Trout struggled at the plate, going 0-for-3 and holding a season batting average of .238.
Upcoming Challenges for the Dodgers and National League Standings
Following the loss, the Dodgers have a day off on Thursday before returning to action Friday night against the San Diego Padres. This series is crucial as the Padres have recently surpassed the Dodgers to take first place in the National League West, holding a slim one-game division lead.
The first pitch for the Friday game is scheduled at 10:10 p.m. ET, with the Dodgers aiming to regain momentum in both the series and the division race.
Other Noteworthy MLB Highlights
Baseball fans can also look forward to several remarkable individual performances this season. Jose Ramirez continues to make history by achieving another 25-homer, 30-stolen base campaign, while Twins rookie Luke Keaschall recently joined Trout in making record book appearances after recovering from injury. Veteran pitcher <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/tag/charlie-morton/”>Charlie Morton, at age 41, matched legends Nolan Ryan and John Smoltz by striking out seven consecutive batters in a single game.