ANAHEIM, Calif. — — Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout are still putting on a show, even though the Los Angeles Angels are a long way from postseason contention.
Ohtani hit his sixth multi-homer game of the season and Trout also hit deep as the Angels beat the Detroit Tigers 10-0 on Monday night.
Trout’s solo shot to left field in the fifth inning off Tyler Alexander (3-9) was his 30th home run of the season, marking the seventh time in his 12-year career that he has reached that level.
It’s the ninth time the Angels have had two players hit at least 30 home runs in a season, but the first time they’ve been two AL MVPs.
Ohtani has 32 home runs this year, but Trout still wants to catch his dynamic teammate for the past four weeks.
“That’s a special player that’s there,” Trout said. “It’s going to be a crazy stretch, but I think it’s going to be fun to watch.”
It was the seventh time this year and 21 since 2018 that Ohtani and Trout homered in the same game. Ohtani has gone deep four times in his last seven games.
“Overall, I’ve been able to see the pitches and swing the bat pretty well, and I’d like to continue what I’ve been doing,” Ohtani said through a translator.
José Suárez (6-6) pitched three-hit ball in seven innings. He was the 17th shutout by Angels pitchers this season, tying them with the New York Mets for the most in the majors.
Luis Rengifo had a career-high four hits and drove in one run for the Angels, who had their second-best offensive performance of the season with 16 hits.
Ohtani, who hit a two-run homer in the third, tied Troy Glaus’ franchise record for most multi-home run games in a season with a 416-foot solo shot in the seventh.
The two-way phenom from Japan, who had three hits and three RBIs, is second in the AL in home runs, 22 behind New York Yankees slugger and fellow AL MVP contender Aaron Judge.
“They are tremendous players. Like I said before the game, you can’t make mistakes today and then you can’t keep them down for long if you don’t throw good shots,” Detroit manager AJ Hinch said of Ohtani and Trout.
Trout also had three hits and drove in a run. He is hitting .302 (19-for-63) with six home runs since he missed 28 games with left rib cage inflammation.
“Just being with the guys and getting at-bats every day, I think that’s been important to me. I feel good,” Trout said.
Suarez struck out seven and pitched seven innings for the second time in 17 starts this season. The left-hander won his second straight start and is 5-3 since the All-Star break.
“A lot of things went well tonight. Jose set the tone,” interim manager Phil Nevin said. “That was one of the best I’ve ever seen him throw. He was locating and had everything working. His speed and changeup were really good.”
Detroit rookie Riley Greene had his 13-game hitting streak snapped.
Alexander went 4 1/3 innings, allowing seven runs (six earned) and 10 hits.
LATE RELIEF
Tigers rookie utility player Kody Clemens, the son of seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens, wound up pitching for the second time in three days with the game out of his reach.
Clemens pitched one inning and allowed one run on three hits. He struck out Ohtani looking with a 68 mph pitch in the outside corner and gave his own exuberant third-strike call on the mound.
“I’m just trying to get outs, and for it to happen that way is obviously great,” Clemens said. “He is the best player in baseball. So it’s a really good time for me.”
Grinning from ear to ear, Clemens tossed the souvenir ball to the dugout for safekeeping and hopes Ohtani will sign it for the final two days of the series.
Kody Clemens has pitched six times this year and has allowed three runs on 10 hits in six innings. Ohtani’s strikeout was the first of his career.
“Yeah, I mean, obviously I can’t make it slow enough for Ohtani. Maybe you can throw him slow and slow and then catch him with a fastball,” Hinch said. A big smile spread across Kody’s face, and Shohei tilted his cap.
“I don’t know how (Kody’s) father would have done against him, but he can always say he hit him.”
COACHES ROOM
Tigers: INF Jonathan Schoop (sprained right ankle) will continue his rehab assignment at Triple-A Toledo after playing in two games over the weekend at Class A West Michigan. Hinch said Schoop is making progress toward being activated for this weekend’s series at Kansas City.
Angels: OF Mickey Moniak (fractured left middle finger) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Salt Lake on Tuesday.
UNTIL NEXT TIME
Tigers: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (3-4, 4.17 ERA) pitched four-hit ball in five innings to beat the Angels on Aug. 21.
Angels: RHP Mike Mayers (1-1, 5.17 ERA) will be making his 21st appearance and third start of the season.
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