MLB: Tanaka wins first duel of the Japanese stars against Ohtani

The New York Yankees (33-16) beat the Los Angeles Angels (29-24) 3:1 on Sunday and won the weekend series. The focus was on the first duel between Japanese stars Masahiro Tanaka and Shohei Ohtani, with a better ending for the veteran.

Already in the first inning the Japanese met again in the Japanese league for the first time since 2013. With two outs and runners on first base, Ohtani came to the record as a designated hitter. He worked out a 3-2-count, but then Tanaka caught him with a splinter for a strikeout.

Part 2 of the encounter went to Ohtani, who worked his way up a five-pitch walk in the fourth inning. Tanaka, however, got another chance against Ohtani in the sixth inning and served another strikeout, this time after four pitches and again with a splinter to the third strikeout.

“I think it was good to meet him at this level,” Tanaka said about the duel with Ohtani. “But I was actually just thinking about getting outs. “Emotionally, it was basically the same as usual.”

Tanaka won the duel and collected two strikeouts (BB) against Ohtani. In six innings he played three hits (3 BB) and a solo homoon by Andrelton Simmons in the sixth inning. In addition, there were eight strikeouts.

On the other side, the Angels with starter Garrett Richards had less luck. The right-hander suffered from massive control problems from the beginning and loaded himself several times the bases. For him, after a bases-loaded walk in the third inning after only seven outs, it was the end (3 H, 3 ER, 5 BB). Afterwards the Yankees did two more runs with relief pitcher Jose Alvarez on the mound: First he did a hit-by-pitch against Greg Bird with loaded bases, afterwards Miguel Andujar hit an RBI Fielder’s choice.

All in all, the Yankees were 0-8 with a runners-in-scoring position, which was not important due to their strong pitching performance. David Robertson (H), Dellin Betances (BB) and Aroldis Chapman (BB, 2 SO) each pitched a shutout inning to seal the victory.

All results of the night you will find in our new MLB Scoreboard.

This article was published without previous view by the Major League Baseball.