Shohei Ohtani hit a first-inning, opposite-field home run Thursday, giving the Angels an early lead against the Oakland Athletics. He hit another solo homer in the seventh inning.
The Angels hit seven solo home runs — and still lost 8-7. It was another defeat in a lost season.
“Remaining motivated in that way is hard,” Ohtani said in Japanese when asked if it’s difficult to stay motivated because the Angels are not playoff contenders.
That comment came Wednesday, when Ohtani pitched well but took the loss in a 3-1 defeat to the A's.