On Tuesday night, the Los Angeles Angels made history when Shohei Ohtani hit his 41st home run of the season. The two-run blast in the bottom of the sixth inning proved to be the difference in a 2-1 victory over the Houston Astros.
The home run was Ohtani’s first since August 4th, and it was his 41st of the season, making him the first player in Major League Baseball history to hit 40 home runs and pitch 50 innings in the same season. Ohtani is also the first Japanese-born player to hit 40 home runs in a season.
The Angels have been on a roll lately, winning five of their last six games, and Ohtani’s home run was a big part of that success. He is now batting .276 with 41 home runs and 101 RBIs this season.
The Angels’ victory over the Astros was especially sweet for Ohtani, who had been struggling at the plate recently. He had gone 0-for-12 in his last three games before Tuesday night’s game.
The Angels are now just one game behind the Oakland Athletics for the second Wild Card spot in the American League. With Ohtani continuing to produce at the plate, the Angels have a good chance of making the playoffs this year.
Shohei Ohtani’s 41st home run was a historic moment for both him and the Angels organization. It was a key moment in their victory over the Astros, and it could be a sign of things to come as the Angels make a push for the playoffs.
