CALIFORNIA (TR) – Two-way star Shohei Ohtani belted a three-run home run, his 15th of the season, to power the Los Angeles Angels to a 10-7 win over the Colorado Rockies at Angel Stadium on Monday.
The home run was the second in as many games for Ohtani, the Japanese slugger who is also a starting pitcher. On Sunday, the lefty hit a two-run shot off all-star pitcher Justin Verlander in an 8-3 loss to the Houston Astros.
OHTANI!
A 3-run shot gives the @Angels the lead! (via @FoxSportsWest) pic.twitter.com/KtD29DeqYj
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 28, 2018
“Sho-Time” has not pitched since June 6 after suffering a sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow.
The slugger, once a star for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan, participated in a 50-pitch simulation game earlier on Monday, according to The Orange County Register. If Ohtani returns to the mound sometime in September, Angels manager Mike Scioscia would use him in six-pitcher starting rotation.
Ohtani posted a 3.10 ERA to go along with 61 strikeouts in 49 plus innings before he suffered the elbow injury. The Angels are in fourth place in the AL West.
