(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Shohei Ohtani had yet another impressive game for the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night.
The two-way star got the start for the Angels on Thursday as they attempted to finish off a series win against the Texas Rangers, who lead the American League West division.
The right-hander pitched six innings and allowed just two runs on six hits as he worked around a walk and struck out three batters.
He also hit his 22nd home run of the season.
In doing so, he once again catapulted himself into elite territory.
He is tied with Pete Alonso for the Major League lead in home runs and has held opposing hitters to a .178 batting average.
According to Sarah Langs of MLB.com, Ohtani is the first player since 1900 to have a share of the league lead in home runs and lowest opponent batting average at the end of any given day.
Shohei Ohtani is the first player to have a share of the MLB lead in HR hit AND batting average allowed (min 70 IP) at the end of any given day since 1900
READ IT AGAIN
!!!!
h/t @EliasSports pic.twitter.com/NDVqAWao2i
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) June 16, 2023
With his six innings of work, Ohtani lowered his ERA to 3.29 on the season.
His home run was his only hit of the day, but he certainly made it count as he helped lead the Halos to an important 5-3 victory.
The Angels came to within 4.5 games of first place in the AL West with their win.
Ohtani was the star of the game, per usual.
Once again, the two-way superstar finds himself right in the thick of the conversation for the AL MVP, an award he won after a spectacular 2021 season.
But he continues to impress both at the plate and on the mound.
The post Shohei Ohtani Has Moved Into More Elite Territory appeared first on The Cold Wire.