Shohei Ohtani became the first starting pitcher since at least 1906 to open a game batting in the leadoff spot and earn a win during the Los Angeles Angels' 6-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday in Anaheim, California.
Ohtani (7-1) threw six innings of two-run ball, allowing three hits and three walks while striking out six. He fanned MVP candidate Vladimir Guerrero Jr. twice and lowered his ERA to 2.93.
At the plate, he went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk and a run scored.
The Angels gave Ohtani an early lead with a four-run second inning, and increased the advantage to 5-0 in the third.
Jared Walsh had two hits for Los Angeles, including a two-run single, and Brandon Marsh singled and doubled. Kurt Suzuki knocked in two runs.
The Angels took control of the game in the third inning against Toronto starter Jose Berrios (8-6). Jo Adell led off with a walk and went to third on a double by Marsh. Suzuki's sacrifice fly drove in Adell for a 1-0 lead.
After Ohtani and David Fletcher walked, Walsh hit a two-run single to center. Phil Gosselin's RBI single added another run for a 4-0 lead.
Suzuki's RBI double in the third made it 5-0 before the Blue Jays got on the scoreboard in the fourth.
Teoscar Hernandez had an RBI single and Randal Grichuk had an RBI double to cut the deficit to 5-2, but that' all they would get against Ohtani.
Adell's RBI single in the fifth capped the Angels' scoring.
Toronto's Lordes Gurriel Jr. homered in the ninth off Raisel Iglesias, his 14th of the year, for the game's final run.
The Angels, who improved to 58-58, gained a split of the four-game series.
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