Shohei Ohtani’s RBI Triple, Moniak’s Big Night Propel Angels Past Slumping Yankees, 5-1

AP

13:24 JST, July 19, 2023

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani had an RBI triple, Mickey Moniak hit a two-run homer and Patrick Sandoval pitched two-hit ball into the eighth inning of the Los Angeles Angels’ 5-1 victory over the New York Yankees on Tuesday night.

Moniak had three hits and drove in three runs for the Angels, who have won three of four after a six-game skid. With its first series victory since June 16-18 against Kansas City, Los Angeles is back at .500 while attempting to make enough progress this month in the AL postseason race to justify keeping Ohtani.

Gleyber Torres’ third-inning homer was New York’s only hit until Anthony Volpe’s one-out single finally chased Sandoval (5-7). The Yankees are 1-4 on their trip out of the break, losing both series in Denver and Anaheim.

Ohtani’s career-best streak of three straight games with a homer ended, but the two-way superstar and major league homers leader delivered his big league-high seventh triple in the fifth, scoring Zach Neto from first.

Sandoval was outstanding in his first start in 13 days, mixing his breaking pitches and changeup to near-perfection while retiring 22 of New York’s 27 batters. He finished the Angels’ longest outing from a starter in three weeks with seven strikeouts, getting a standing ovation as he left the mound.

The Yankees’ offensive woes show no signs of abating in Aaron Judge’s prolonged absence. New York dropped to 5-21 since the AL MVP got hurt early last month, scoring two runs or fewer for the 14th time. Their two hits matched a season low. and New York is hitting a major league-low 217 since Judge’s injury at Dodger Stadium.

Domingo Germán (5-6) struck out nine for the third time in his last four starts for New York, but also yielded five runs on four hits and three walks.

Moniak extended the longest hitting streak of his career to 10 games in the first inning with the 11th homer of his impressive season. Moniak also extended the Angels’ team streak to 17 straight games with a homer, just one shy of the franchise record set in August 1982.

Torres connected for his 14th homer in the third.

Ohtani drew the Angels’ third consecutive walk to load the bases in the third, but German allowed just one run when Michael Stefanic scored on a wild pitch.

Ohtani’s triple in the fifth left his bat at a scorching 110.5 mph, and he scored moments later on Moniak’s single.