Shohei Ohtani shuts down SF Giants offense, makes MLB history

Aug 10, 2023, 9:43 AM | Updated: 9:44 am

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 9: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels reacts on the mound aft...

(Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)

Sacramento Kings Beat Writer

The legend of Shohei Ohtani continues to grow.

Ohtani held the San Francisco Giants to one run (zero earned) over six innings of work while striking out five batters during the Los Angeles Angels’ 4-1 win on Wednesday night.

During his 10th win of the season, Ohtani held San Francisco to three hits en route to becoming the first Major League Baseball player to hit 40 home runs and win ten games in a single season.

As Ohtani inches closer to becoming a free agent at the end of the 2023 season, he continues to make history on an almost nightly basis.

Players with 40 home runs as a batter and 10 wins as a pitcher in a season in MLB history:

Shohei Ohtani (2023). pic.twitter.com/gm1tfgSbwB

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) August 10, 2023

“Obviously, he was able to keep his pitch count under control and pitch deep into that game,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said of Ohtani while speaking to the media postgame.

“Early on, I thought we did a nice job of grinding and laying off pitches that we couldn’t drive, which forced him to get into the zone a little bit. We put some good swings on him. Ultimately, he’s so good that he finds his way even on days when doesn’t have his best stuff. I thought he pitched well today.”

After winning seven of nine, the Giants have turned around and dropped four of their past five games to two teams–the Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Angels–that held sub-.500 records.

During this recent five-game rough patch, San Francisco is batting .200 as a team while striking out 9.8 times per contest.

The schedule only gets harder for the Giants as their next three opponents (Texas, Tampa Bay, and Atlanta) hold an average winning percentage of .600 and sit well in the Playoff picture.

While the hot-and-cold act continues for San Francisco, Giants fans got a front-row seat to the Shohei Ohtani show in what many hope was the last time they will have to watch the Japanese phenom as an opposing player.

Although Ohtani is been tight-lipped on his plans for free agency, you can expect San Francisco to be one of the bidding teams for the future MVP’s services this coming offseason.

The only MLB player to have multiple seasons with 10+ wins and 10+ home runs hit? Shohei Ohtani 🦄#GoHalos x @NationalPro pic.twitter.com/ZC4AjkrFpy

— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) August 10, 2023