ANAHEIM, Calif. — Shohei Ohtani made an abrupt departure from the mound in the sixth inning of the Angels’ 7-5 loss to the Houston Astros on Friday at Angel Stadium.
The two-way star walked the first batter of the inning, Corey Julks, prompting a mound visit from manager Phil Nevin, athletic trainer Mike Frostad and interpreter Ippei Mizuhara. Ohtani then left the mound with Frostad and Mizuhara, but remained in the game as a designated hitter.
The Angels (45-47) lost their sixth consecutive game and have dropped 10 of their past 11.
The Angels had tied the game 4-4 heading into the sixth.
Relief pitcher Jacob Webb took over and walked the next batter, Jeremy Peña. Martin Maldonado then hit a sacrifice bunt toward first base on a play that likely could have been the start of a double play, but second baseman Mike Moustakas instead opted to jog to first as Julks and Peña advanced. The two runners ended up scoring on a RBI single by Mauricio Dubon.
It wasn’t the only misplay of a night that started off promising for the Angels. The Angels took an early 2-0 lead, Ohtani keeping the Astros scoreless in the first three innings.
Taylor Ward hit a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh for the Angels.
