Jul 17, 2023; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) flips his bat after hitting a two-run home run in the seventh inning against the New York Yankees at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
MLB: New York Yankees at Los Angeles Angels
(Los Angeles) — Pitching to Shohei Ohtani is not something Aaron Boone regrets.
The Yankees manager spoke on pitching to Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani during the seventh inning of Monday’s matchup.
“No, no,” Boone said when asked if walking Ohtani before the game-tying blast was an option.” Maybe if he had gotten to second base and fallen behind in the count or something, but not there.”
Ohtani’s at-bat came with Eduardo Escobar on first base. It was a 1-2 count from Yanks pitcher Mike King before Ohtani hit a home run into left center.
“When we have a two-run lead there [in the seventh] — the guy hitting behind him [Mickey Moniak] is hitting .330, too,” Boone added.
“So I wasn’t gonna put another runner out at second and the tying run on and the go-ahead run at the plate with a two-run lead. Now had [Escobar] gotten to second and we were behind in the count or something, different story. But no, not in that [spot].”
Ohtani’s home run added to a league-leading 35 homers of the season and coupled it with an unfamiliar bat flip.
“It was the most emotion I’ve seen on the field I’ve seen from him,” Angels manager Phil Nevin said.
“It was awesome. Just an incredible deal there. When your superstar steps up in moments like that and something like that happens, it’s not only what it does for the whole place but what it does for the dugout.”
