Ohtani finalizes sweep in penultimate series of 2018

Angels 3 - Rangers 2

Andrew Heaney finished the season strong as Shohei Ohtani and Taylor Ward supplied just enough offense to take the final game of the season series and sweep the Arlington Annoyances right out the park.

The Rangers matched the Angels’ two home runs with blasts of their own, one each by Adrian Beltre and Jurickson Profar. While both of those solo shots would be absolutely crushed, Ohtani’s top-of-the-wall bouncer and Ward’s long fly would count equally in the box score.

The difference in this game would be Ohtani’s single with Upton in scoring position, an outcome that he has shown a propensity for. The two teams were mostly kept off of second and third, going a combined 1-4 in those same RISP situations.

Andrew Heaney pitched 7 innings of 2-run ball with 10 strikeouts against Mendez’ 4.1 innings with the same number of runs allowed. Somehow, the Angels managed to walk 6 times while the Rangers walked just once, and none of those 7 baserunners would do anything of importance other than be doubled up. There were a combined 4 double plays grounded into tonight.

In awards news, Mookie Betts strengthened the divide between himself and Mike Trout while Ohtani did the same to Miguel Andujar. Betts went 2-2 with a double and walk (and stole his 30th base of the season to lock in the second 30-30 year for a player) while Miguel Andujar went 0-5 with 2 strikeouts. While it is looking increasingly likely that Mike Trout will end up second (or worse) in the MVP voting, Shohei Ohtani should be a lock for Rookie of the Year.

But you know... you can’t trust writers as far as you can throw them.