MLB: Angels blank Blue Jays again

TORONTO – Shohei Ohtani supplanted Alek Manoah as the Los Angeles Angels shut out the Toronto Blue Jays 2-0 on Saturday.

The Angels (54-73) shut out the Blue Jays (68-57) for the second straight game in this three-game series.

Ohtani (11-8) gave up just two hits and walked one in seven innings. He struck out nine opponents in his 109-pitch performance.

Manoah (12-7) also ruled for seven innings, allowing one run, four hits and two walks. He had eight strikeouts.

The Blue Jays were unable to enjoy the 30th anniversary celebration night of the 1992 World Series champion. Joe Carter, Dave Winfield, Dave Stieb, manager Cito Gaston and several other members were present during the pre-match ceremony.

« To me, every game is Game 7 of the World Series, » Manoah said. It doesn’t matter if Ohtani is on the mound or if it’s Roger Clemens. My job is to show up and compete. I give my maximum to the team and I do everything I can to try to make us win. »

“To see (the 1992 team) come back and party, it was pretty amazing. So hopefully we can get back to work and try to achieve the same feat. »

Angels shortstop Andrew Velazquez gave his team some breathing room with a solo homer after two outs in the ninth inning at the expense of reliever Anthony Bass.

The Angels took a 1-0 lead in the sixth inning. David Fletcher got the ball rolling with a single to the left and went to second base on a walk to Mike Trout.

Installed at third base after Ohtani had hit an optional, Fletcher crossed home plate when Luis Rengifo slammed a single to the left.

Ohtani struck out 11 consecutive batters, from Alejandro Kirk’s strikeout to end the third inning to Bo Bichette’s strikeout to start the seventh. The streak ended when Velazquez erred while juggling a ground ball from Cavan Biggio.

Manoah and Ohtani didn’t allow a run for five innings and had allowed just two hits apiece.

The Blue Jays avoided danger in the fifth inning, when rookie Ryan Aguilar hit a double down the right field line. Angels third base coach Mike Gallego, however, called Aguilar forward 90 feet and he was pinned by Jackie Bradley Jr.’s excellent throw.

Bradley started in right field replacing Teoscar Hernandez, who left Friday’s game with a bruised left foot. Hernandez was available to pinch hit Saturday.

George Springer, meanwhile, played his first game in center field since going off the injured list with a right elbow injury 10 games ago.

Springer extended his streak to 10 with at least one hit on a first-inning single.