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USA Today via Reuters

USA Today via Reuters

LA Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani is inarguably one of the best players in Major League Baseball. Not even a shadow of doubt about that. Be it from the mound or the plate, Ohtani is miles ahead of anyone in the league. After struggling with the bat in the first few games, he is back to his best.

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The two-way phenom single-handedly dominated the game against the Houston Astros. When the league started, the Angles had a poor start against the same team on the opening day of the 2022 MLB season. But things are way different for both teams.

The Japanese slugger delivered one of his best all-around performances ever. Since performing CPR on his bat, Ohtani has been a completely different player in the ballpark. He has been a dynamic force on the mound and at the plate for the LA Angels.

Shohei Ohtani makes history even without pitching against the Astros

After losing the first game of the series, the Angels made a strong comeback against the Astros in the second game on Tuesday. And in the series decider, the Angels did not even give a chance to the Astros, as they completely dominated the game. Thanks to Shohei Ohtani, who led the Angels to win the series.

USA Today via Reuters

Post-game Angels manager Joe Maddon was quite impressed with Ohtani’s performance against the Astros. Maddon said that Ohtani was at his best. Notably, in the first series, Ohtani struggled against Dusty Baker’s side. But this time, Ohtani did not make any chance for the Astros players.

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“He was at his best tonight, that was a great performance,” Joe Maddon said. “I think he just had enough of Houston giving him a hard time, and he wanted to go out there and do something about it, both on the mound and at the plate… His stuff was extraordinary. You cannot even describe it… It’s the best I’ve seen.”

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Notably, Ohtani made another record in the game. He became the first starting pitcher in the modern era to bat twice before even throwing a single pitch. And while pitching, Ohtani had a brilliant outing against the Astros. The Angels star had 12 strikeouts in six innings he pitched against the Astros on Wednesday. He tied his career-best record for maximum strikeouts in a single game in MLB.

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The Angels defeated the Astros by 6-0 in the third game of the series and won the series at the Minute Maid Park.