Sports | April 2, 2018 10:37 am

Shohei Ohtani Puts Fears to Rest With Solid Mound Debut

After a disastrous spring training, Japanese star strikes out six to earn first MLB win.

Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim works out in the bullpen prior to the start of a Major League Baseball game against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on March 30, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

By Evan Bleier @itishowitis

Shohei Ohtani wasn’t spectacular in his Major League Baseball pitching debut, but after a brutal spring training that saw him give up nine earned runs in 2 2/3 spring training innings, the Los Angeles Angels will take it.

On Sunday, Ohtani surrendered three runs over six innings while striking out six Oakland A’s. He walked one and the only runs against him came on a three-run homer by Matt Chapman in the second inning.

After allowing the blast, though, the rookie two-way player settled into a groove and retired 14 of the final 15 batters he faced while leading the Angles to a 7-4 victory.

During his outing, Ohtani was able to work both sides of the plate and changed speeds nicely, throwing a fastball that hit triple digits at times and deploying a nasty sinker at 89-90 MPH.

“He used everything,” said Angels manager Mike Scioscia. “Outside of maybe one stretch of three hitters in the second inning, that’s about as well as you could pitch.” He added: “Shohei has shown great poise in everything he’s done — the way he’s practiced, the adjustments he’s made at the plate when he’s swinging the bat. I think that’s going to be one of his strengths moving on.”