Japan’s Shohei Ohtani blasted a two-run homer with two outs in the ninth as the Los Angeles Angels came from behind to beat the Boston Red Sox 6-5 on Sunday.
Ohtani’s two run shot came off Red Sox closing pitcher Matt Barnes and snapped a four-game losing skid for the Angels.
“Coming off a losing streak and the first two games of the series, the way we lost, it wasn’t a good way to lose,” Ohtani said. “So, it was huge for us and the team to come up with this. We showed that we can beat any team.”
Mike Trout hit a bloop single after Barnes had retired the first two batters he faced in the ninth as the Angels tried to avoid a three-game sweep to Boston.
Trout, who had no hits in his last 18 bat appearances, hit his single to right center field. Ohtani came up next and hammered the first pitch, a 96 mph fastball, to right field.
It was Ohtani’s 12th home run of the season and it came against Boston’s ace closer Barnes, who was nine-of-nine in save opportunities this season.
“He’s the most physically gifted baseball player that we’ve ever seen,” Barnes said. “I don’t know that you’re ever going to see someone who can throw 100, 101 and hit the ball 600 feet. He’s a special player and incredibly talented. Hopefully, he stays healthy and has a long career.”
Mike Mayers earned his second save of the season for the Angels by striking out three batters in the ninth.
The Angels jumped to a 4-0 lead in the second off Red Sox starter Nathan Eovaldi, getting four hits, a hit-batter and a walk in the inning.

Orioles rally for 10-6 victory over Yankees
Ryan Mountcastle finished with four RBIs, Maikel Franco hit a two-run homer and drove in three, and pitcher Bruce Zimmermann gave Baltimore solid long relief as the Orioles rallied for a 10-6 victory over the visiting New York Yankees on Sunday.
Zimmermann (2-3) shut down the Yankees after they scored four runs in the first off starter Adam Plutko. Baltimore just recalled the left-handed rookie from Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday – sending back infielder Ramon Urias – and Zimmerman delivered.
He came on in the second and allowed one run on two hits in 5 2/3 innings. Zimmermann struck out six and walked one.
The Yankees gave starter Jordan Montgomery a big early lead, but he could not hold onto it and gave up five runs on six hits in three innings as the Orioles rallied.
New York started by loading the bases with no outs in the first. The Yankees scored a run when Gio Urshela grounded into a double play before Gary Sanchez and Clint Frazier followed with back-to-back homers. Sanchez’s was a two-run shot while Frazier’s solo blast made it 4-0. The Orioles got two back in the bottom of the first thanks to a two-out rally. Mountcastle drove in one with an RBI double, and Pedro Severino’s single cut the lead to 4-2.
Aaron Judge stretched the lead to 5-2 in the third on his fourth home run of this series, but Baltimore then answered with three in the bottom half. Mountcastle started things with a sacrifice fly before Franco (double) and Freddy Galvis (single) tied the game with run-scoring hits.
Trey Mancini then gave the Orioles a 6-5 lead in the fourth with an RBI double off of Michael King (0-1). Franco then stretched the lead to 8-5 with his two-run homer in the seventh against Wandy Peralta, and Mountcastle added a two-run single in the eighth before the Yankees scored one in the ninth.
Also, the Yankees placed Aaron Hicks on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to May 13) due to a left wrist sprain. They also signed outfielder Ryan LaMarre to a major league deal and called him up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Also, another person on the team’s support staff tested positive for Covid-19, the ninth one in recent ays.

Results
Angels    6-5    Boston
Orioles    10-6    Yankees
Athletics    7-6    Twins
Mariners    3-2    Indians
Astros    6-2    Rangers
Rays    7-1    Mets
Nationals    3-0    D’Backs
Brewers    10-9    Braves
Giants    4-1    Pirates
Reds    7-6    Rockies
Blue Jays    10-8    Phillies
White Sox    4-3    Royals