Shohei Ohtani struggles as Angels' losing streak reaches 6 games

Angels starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani looks at a ball during a game.

Staff Writer

Published July 14, 2023 Updated July 15, 2023 12:25 PM PT

The Angels knew what was bothering Shohei Ohtani when he was pulled from the mound in the sixth inning Friday night: the middle finger on his right hand, which worsened from a cracked nail to a finger blister in the weeks before the All-Star break.

The finger healed during the break. His outing did not worsen a wound during the Angels’ 7-5 loss to the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium, manager Phil Nevin said. It also did not feel completely fine. Nevin said Ohtani’s finger felt sensitive. When asked to share how his finger felt, Ohtani gave an assessment of his past few pitching starts.

“For the most part, things just didn’t go the way I want it to,” Ohtani said through interpreter Ippei Mizuhara. “And it’s kind of been like that when I was on the mound, the last couple outings.”

It’s unclear whether it will affect his next start.

“Haven’t really talked about when my next outing is,” Ohtani said. “Just kinda gonna come to the field and see where my finger’s at. Think we’ll go from there.”

As uncertain as Ohtani was about his next start, so too seemed the future for the Angels, who dropped their sixth consecutive game and recorded their 10th loss in 11 games.

The Angels know there is heightened pressure to win with two weeks until the trade deadline, their games until then putting them up against playoff contenders.

After the Astros, the defending champions who are challenging for an American League playoff spot, the Angels will face the New York Yankees and later in the month the Toronto Blue Jays, both of whom also are in the playoff race.

Amid adversity, what gives the Angels confidence they can turn things around?

“The talent in this room,” outfielder Mickey Moniak said. “It’s a rough patch, no ifs, ands or buts about it. But when this team is firing on all cylinders, I think we can compete with anybody in the league. Just not doing that right now. Just gonna need to really lock it in.”

Ohtani, the biggest star on a team in which his continued membership is not a guarantee, was evasive when asked how confident he is in the Angels’ ability to win.

“We had plenty of hits today (12),” said Ohtani, who gave up five runs (four earned) in five innings. “Just was missing that one big hit to win the game. And we scored enough runs as long as the pitching, including myself, kept the runs to a minimum. I felt like we could have won today.”

The Angels came out of the All-Star break determined to make their mark. Veteran first baseman Mike Moustakas, whom the Angels traded for at the end of June, delivered a speech about unity.

“Just go out there and keep playing for each other,” rookie shortstop Zach Neto, who returned from the injury list Friday, said in recalling the speech.

The feeling around the clubhouse Friday night, though, was understandably glum after several misplays extended their losing streak.

During the top of the fifth inning, Luis Rengifo, who was playing third base, dropped a grounder and kicked the ball, sending it into the outfield grass. He lightly jogged after it. Kyle Tucker scored from second base to give the Astros a 4-2 lead and Jose Abreu, who hit the grounder, reached second. Rengifo was charged with an error. Ohtani struck out the next two Astros to get out of the inning, and afterward Nevin approached Rengifo in the dugout and talked with him. Rengifo picked up his glove and hat and walked back to the clubhouse, benched for the remainder of the game.

“Mistakes happen. I’ll never have a problem with mistakes,” Nevin said. “It’s what happens after the mistakes. The next play is too damn important for our team and for the player and for our fans, quite frankly, to let those plays affect us.”

After Ohtani left the mound with two runners on in the sixth inning, Houston’s Martín Maldonado hit a sacrifice bunt toward first base and it seemed the Angels could turn a double play. Maldonado barely jogged to the base, expecting to be tagged out and runners Corey Julks and Jeremy Peña initially didn’t move. But Moustakas jogged to the bag to get just one out as Julks and Peña advanced. Both scored on a single by Mauricio Dubón for a 6-4 lead.

“We’re definitely not playing very good, so we’re definitely a little down,” reliever Aaron Loup said. “Because we know how good we can be. We’ve showed it… So the mood is not great, but we’re hanging in there.”

The inconsistencies in their performances have been clear the last few weeks — the pitching, the offense, the defense or all three slipping at various times.

Throw in the rash of injuries that continue to plague the Angels and you get a team with little room for more losses. Reliever Sam Bachman (right shoulder inflammation) was the newest to join the growing list of ailments and he was added to the injured list Friday, along with Anthony Rendon (left shin bruise) and Jo Adell (left oblique strain).

The Angels are not the only team experiencing significant injuries to starters. The Astros and Yankees have been weathering their own injury troubles. But the Angels are faring the worst.

“I am frustrated to a certain point. I mean, not just me, but I feel like the whole team is,” Ohtani said. “[I] think it’s just only natural when you can’t win games for the frustration to build up.”

Shohei Ohtani deals with lingering finger sensitivity as Angels drop sixth straight game

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