The Los Angeles Angels scratched Shohei Ohtani from his scheduled pitching start Monday, but the two-way star made his presence felt in the batting lineup against the Tampa Bay Rays, tying the major league lead with his ninth home run of the season.
The Rays claimed the series opener 7-3 at Angel Stadium after lefty Jose Quintana started in place of Ohtani, who was nursing a sore throwing arm as a result of being hit by a pitch the previous day.
The 26-year-old Ohtani had no apparent problems swinging his bat, going deep over center field for a two-run shot off Tampa Bay starter Tyler Glasnow in the bottom of the sixth.