Shohei Ohtani hit his AL-leading 41st home run with a solo blast in the sixth inning, as the Los Angeles Angels beat the Houston Astros 2-1 to avoid a three-game sweep on Sunday.
Ohtani sent his first homer in nine games over the wall in center on a 1-0 slider from left-handed reliever Parker Mushinski, pushing the Angels' lead to 2-0 at Minute Maid Park.
The 2021 American League MVP went 1-for-3 with a walk.
The Astros pulled within a run in the bottom of the sixth when a wild pitch by Jose Soriano scored Jon Singleton, but the Angels bullpen preserved the one-run lead with Carlos Estevez working the ninth for his 25th save.
Chase Silseth (4-1) threw five scoreless innings for the win. Jose Urquidy (2-3) took the loss.
Among other Japanese players, New York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga picked up his ninth win after throwing six effective innings in a 7-6 victory over the Atlanta Braves.
Senga (9-6) allowed three runs on four hits while striking out seven and walking two.
Baltimore Orioles right-hander Shintaro Fujinami recorded his first save with a scoreless 10th in a 5-3 win over the Seattle Mariners.