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47-87 - Ohtani inevitable as Rangers lose 3-2 to Angels in opener

Surprise surprise, the Rangers open a road trip with a loss

By ghostofErikThompson
Texas Rangers v Los Angeles Angels Photo by Harry How/Getty Images

The Texas Rangers scored two runs but the Anaheim Angels scored three runs.

Glenn Otto’s second big league outing didn’t go quite as smoothly as his debut from last week, but it wasn’t too bad either. After enjoying one of the best first starts in club history, tonight Otto allowed two runs on four hits and a walk. He struck out four and exited after 4 2⁄3 innings and 84 pitches.

As Otto was trying to navigate an American League lineup while on the road for the first time in his big league career, the Rangers were trying to beat phenom Shohei Ohtani on his way to one of the most fascinating seasons in the history of the sport.

117 pitches later, the Rangers only drew a drop of blood for two runs in Ohtani’s seven innings. The presumed MVP struck out eight Rangers on his way to a ninth win in 20 starts in 2021.

The Rangers are now back to 40 games below .500.

Player of the Game: Jason Martin ran into one and smacked a two-run home run off the American League’s MVP in waiting to account for the scoring output of Texas.

Up Next: The Rangers and Angels will play another one with LHP Kolby Allard set to pitch for Texas against LHP Jose Suarez for Anaheim. Saturday night’s first pitch from Angel Stadium is scheduled for 8:07 pm CT.