Ohtani's MLB-Best 35th HR Lifts Angels Past Twins 6-2
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Shohei Ohtani hit his major league-leading 35th home run and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Minnesota Twins 6-2 Sunday.
Ohtani, who had two hits, lasered a line drive into the right-field seats for a solo homer in the sixth inning that broke a 2-all tie. The Angels overcame an early two-run deficit to take three of four games in the series.
Max Stassi had three hits and drove in three runs for the Angels.
Max Kepler and Brent Rooker led off with back-to-back home runs for the Twins, now a season-worst 16 games under .500.
Rooker's 436-foot drive went to the third deck in left field for a 2-0 lead.
Jaime Barria (1-0), recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake for his first start of the season, quickly put the rocky beginning behind him, allowing just two more hits in his seven-inning outing. He struck out four.
Stassi tripled in the second, homered in the fifth and singled as part of a three-run ninth. Brandon Marsh and Jack Mayfield added final-frame RBI doubles.
Bailey Ober allowed three hits and two earned runs in a season-high 5 1-3 innings before left-handed Danny Coulombe (1-1) came on to face Ohtani. His second pitch was Ohtani's homer.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: Out since mid-May with a right calf strain, OF Mike Trout is scheduled for a "routine follow-up" doctor visit Monday. Manager Joe Maddon said Trout "feels it a little bit in that area when he tries to move quickly. … It's not awful." … To make room for Barria, LHP Alex Claudio was designated for assignment.
Twins: CF Jake Cave (low back) returned after missing 64 games. ... OF Trevor Larnach, hit in the right hand by a pitch Saturday, did not play. ... C Mitch Garver, reinstated from the paternity list, caught the final two innings. C Ben Rortvedt was sent to Triple-A St. Paul.
UP NEXT
Angels: Ohtani (4-1, 3.21) will be pitching with an extra day of rest Monday when Los Angeles opens a three-game home series against Colorado. RHP Germán Márquez (8-7, 3.50) is to start for the Rockies.
Twins: Open a three-game home series with Detroit Monday with RHP Michael Pineda (4-5, 3.93) to face the Tigers' RHP Matt Manning (2-3, 5.79).
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