Hours after his club quashed any doubts that he would remain, Shohei Ohtani performed like a man inspired to lead the Los Angeles Angels on a playoff run.
Ohtani, the greatest two-way star in the game's history and a pending free agent, pitched his first career shutout, a one-hit domination of the Detroit Tigers as the Angels won the first game of a doubleheader 6-0 at Comerica Park on Thursday. It was also his first career complete game.
He hit two home runs in the second game, his 37major league-leading 37th and 38th of the season.
The Angels entered Game 2 3 1/2 games out of the final wild-card spot in what's almost certainly a second MVP season from Ohtani in three years.