by BJ Martin, Angels Nation Staff
Shohei Ohtani has a way of making headlines.
Two days after pitching 2 1/3 innings against the White Sox, the left-handed hitter returned to the Angels line-up as the designated hitter.
Facing fellow two-way sensation, and former Cal State Fullerton Titan, Mike Lorenzen, the Angels DH put on a show with his bat.
Homering not once, but twice off the Cincinnati Reds starter.
— Halo Life ⚾ (@_HaloLife) March 15, 2021
Both solo home runs were hit to the opposite field landing on the Tempe outfield lawn berm. The two-way star is now hitting .583 with 3 home runs two weeks into spring action.
The Angels would ultimately lose the game to the Reds 7-3 at Tempe Diablo Stadium.
The ‘Brief Breakdown’:
Pitching:
Alex Cobb continued to impress in his third spring start with his new club. The Angels starter continued to induce opposing hitters to hit ground balls. More ended up being outs that hits again for Cobb Monday afternoon.
The right-hander threw 68 pitches across 3 and 2/3 innings before Joe Maddon called it a day for Cobb. He allowed only two hits, one walk, and struck out 3 Cincinnati Reds. He’s expected to be a fixture in the back-half of the Angels 2021 starting rotation.
Felix Pena had to leave the game in the fifth inning with one out due to irritation in his right hamstring. The Angels reliever struck out two Reds in his 2/3 innings. He’s currently list as day-to-day with his injury.
Angels Rule 5 selection Jose Alberto Rivera made his first appearance of the spring in the eighth inning. Pitching a 1-2-3 inning and striking out Nick Delmonico looking for the third and final out. Rivera will need to make the Opening Day roster or be offered back to the Astros.
Anaheim native Jake Faria had another successful spring performance. Throwing a perfect ninth inning and lowering his spring ERA to 2.84.
Batters:
Jo Adell returned to the field for the first time since leaving game Saturday after a collision with the outfield wall. He showed no visible signs of injury at the plate Monday. Clubbing an opposite field home run off Art Warren in the seventh inning.
Jo Adell is going to be special for the Angels https://t.co/U4OGVk4RNm
— Halo Life ⚾ (@_HaloLife) March 15, 2021
Jose Iglesias had another nice day at the plate going 2-for-2 before giving way to Jack Mayfield in the fifth inning. The Angels new starting shortstop is hitting .300 in two weeks of Cactus League play.
Mike Trout went 0-for-3 for the day. Leaving the game with his spring batting average at .167. The important thing, he’s healthy and hitting the ball hard. He’ll be a favorite for another AL MVP come April.
Talking points:
The Angels signed Mission Viejo High School graduate Kieren Lovegrove to a minor league contract. The native of South Africa was a fourth-round selection by the Cleveland Indians in the 2012 draft. The 6-foot-4 right-handed pitcher last pitched for Double-A Richmond in the San Francisco organization in 2019. He would have graduated MVHS the year Patrick Sandoval was a freshman at the same high school.
On Tuesday: The Angels will be hosting the Cleveland Indians at Tempe Diablo Stadium. The Tribe is scheduled to send reigning AL Cy Young winner and Laguna Hills High School product Shane Bieber to the mound. The Angels are expected to counter with Griffin Canning who will be making his third start of the spring. The 1:10 PM (PT) game will be broadcast for television on Fox Sports West and radio on KLAA.
