It took a once-in-a-century player from Japan to finally solve a pitcher who has owned this part of Southern California.
That would be Verlander and his scoreless streak at Angel Stadium, which had reached 26 innings before Ohtani clubbed Verlander’s first offering over the center-field wall in the fourth inning.
It happened in an 8-3 loss, but the Angels will take what they can get in a season in which Ohtani is one of the few dramas worth watching. His 14th home run, which also ended Verlander’s 18 overall scoreless-inning streak against the Angels, followed another step toward Ohtani’s pitching return.