Boston Red Sox: Shohei Ohtani shows off ‘unreal’ talent in downing Sox

Well, the first start for Nathan Eovaldi as an All-Star didn’t go so great as the Boston Red Sox flamethrower struggled in the team’s 5-3 loss to Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Angels Tuesday night at Angel Stadium.

Needless to say, Eovaldi had to pitch like an All-Star to give his team a chance to win against the dual sensation that is Ohtani, but after being staked a quick 1-0 lead to open the game, the Red Sox righty put his team in a hole by giving up 3 runs in the bottom of the first inning.

Ironically, it was Ohtani at the plate who set Eovaldi back with an RBI double that quickly changed the momentum of the game.

Ohtani’s RBI double was then followed by a two-run homer off the bat of Angels catcher Max Stassi. The aggressive approach got to Eovaldi, which was the game plan of the Angels hitters entering the game.

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"“We went after [Eovaldi],” Angels manager Joe Maddon said after the game, via MLB.com. “We didn’t sit back. He’s the kind of guy if you could hit all righties against him, you would. His cutter-slider beats up lefties pretty nicely. So, I thought the right-handed part of our lineup did a really nice job.”"

In giving up five runs on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings pitched, Eovaldi obviously didn’t have the focus on the mound he has had consistently through the first half of the season, but if it wasn’t for giving up those 3 runs in the first inning, he probably would’ve still pitched well enough to get a win, even with the strong pitching performance by Shohei Ohtani.

Boston Red Sox stopped by good defense

It’s funny how the game of baseball works.

The Boston Red Sox have been winning game with stellar defensive plays, but it was a great defensive play made against them Tuesday night that stopped the team from overcoming the 3-1 hole and scratching their way

to a win against Ohtani.

With the team down 3-2, All-Star shortstop Xander Bogaerts stepped to the plate in the top of the sixth inning with J.D. Martinez on base. In what was setting up as another clutch moment by a Red Sox batter, Bogaerts powered an Ohtani cutter deep to right-center in what was looking like a go-ahead two-run homer.

Angels center-fielder Juan Lagares put an end to that Bogaerts’ potential big moment by leaping against all to rob the Red Sox of a lead. With the way the season is going for the Sox, it takes those types of plays to stop them from winning baseball games.

"“Yeah, Lagares, he changed the game with that play,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said in the post-game conference. “That ball, if that’s a home run, it’s 4-3, us. He’s a good center fielder. That play by Lagares changed the game right there. We get the lead and obviously it’s a different ballgame.”"

A different ballgame indeed. Instead, however, the Red Sox were burned by Shohei Ohtani at the plate and on the mound as Nathan Eovaldi saw his record dip to 9-5 on the season.

Boston Red Sox couldn’t overcome the “unreal” talent of Ohtani

Sometimes you just have to tip your hat as a team and a fan of the game of baseball.

The Boston Red Sox were facing a challenge entering Tuesday night’s game and that challenge was a two-way player who is making his dent on the game of baseball as a dangerous hitter and a pretty darn good pitcher.

As the Red Sox got the last laugh against Ohtani on Monday night in getting him to ground out for the final out of the game, the Angels All-Star got his revenge on Tuesday night by cooling down the Sox hot bats and putting Nathan Eovaldi on the ropes early with his bat.

The good thing for the Red Sox, is they don’t have to face him too often. When they do, baseball fans get a rare treat in watching him do amazing things with his arm and bat.

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"“It’s amazing what he’s doing,” Cora said after the game. “Unreal, to do it at this level. We talk about the preparation and what he has to do to post every six days or whatever, and then to be the DH and do the things that he does, it’s amazing. It’s great.”"

Now, imagine if he was doing this in a Red Sox uniform. Oh(tani), the joy!

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