ANAHEIM — It’s been all or nothing lately for the Angels offense.
The Angels’ 10-2 victory over the Padres on Saturday night marked the third time in the last nine games that they’ve reached double figures. In five of the other six games, they’ve scored one run or less.
This time they steadily beat up on a procession of pitchers, scoring multiple runs in four straight innings.
Jared Walsh, who had been slumping, started the scoring with a homer and added two more hits. Brandon Marsh had three hits, the third time this week he’s had at least three hits.
Jack Mayfield also had a two-run homer among his two hits. Justin Upton drove in just one run with a sacrifice fly, but it was the 1,000th RBI of his career.
Surprisingly, the only Angels starter who didn’t have a hit or RBI was Shohei Ohtani, but he still had an eventful night.
The Angels got a scare when Ohtani was hit in the right wrist by a 93 mph Ryan Weathers fastball in the first inning. Ohtani was visibly in pain as he walked toward first, accompanied by a trainer.
Adding insult to injury, umpires ruled that Ohtani had swung at the pitch, so it was a strikeout.
Ohtani immediately underwent an X-ray, which came back clean, Maddon said. Ohtani remained in the game. He drew a walk in the fifth inning and then stole his 20th base of the season, becoming the first player in Angels history to combine 20 steals with 40 homers. Ohtani leads the majors with 41 homers.
“Shohei breaks another record every day,” Walsh said. “According to our scoreboard, no one has done anything that he has done since 1885 or whatever. So every night with Sho, it’s something different.”
Added Maddon: “Every day for the rest of the season he’s probably going to do something that stands out,” Maddon said. “It’s impressive. He’s pitching, too, my God.”
Maddon said he didn’t expect Ohtani to have any issues being able to make his next start, on Tuesday.
Just about the only blemish on the night for the Angels was the performance of starter José Suarez, who was done in by one bad inning.
After working three scoreless innings, Suarez gave up two runs on three hits and two walks before Maddon yanked him with a 3-2 lead.
Suarez could have given up more than two runs if not for a great throw from right fielder Jo Adell to nail Wil Myers at third.
After Suarez was pulled, Andrew Wantz then took over and escaped two-on jam with one pitch to Fernando Tatis Jr., who hit a flyout to center.
Wantz pitched a scoreless fifth, with three strikeouts. He was credited with his first big league victory.
Junior Guerra, Steve Cishek and Raisel Iglesias finished off the game without allowing another run. Iglesias pitched with an eight-run lead because he hadn’t pitched in three days and the Angels are off on Sunday.
“The bullpen was very good,” Maddon said. “Everyone that came out of the ‘pen was outstanding. Up and down the lineup, I thought we had great at-bats.”
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