Aaron Civale Outduels Shohei Ohtani Tribe wins 3-2

The buzz around the Indians’ series with the Angels has been a lot about Shohei Ohtani. The Angels’ pitcher came into Wednesday’s game with a 2.10 ERA also leading the league with 14 home runs.

Aaron Civale took the bump for the Indians. Civale pitched seven strong innings allowing two runs and striking out eight. This victory gives Civale six wins which lead the American League.

Ohtani got a no-decision after pitching 4 2/3 innings and giving up two runs. He fanned the first two batters he faced but gave up a two-out single to Jose Ramirez. Ramirez went on to steal second and Franmil Reyes drove him home with a double giving the Tribe an early 1-0 lead.

The Angels knotted it up in the third inning with a triple by David Fletcher who was brought home on a double by Jose Iglesias. In the fourth inning the Angels took the lead on a homer by Jared Walsh.

Jake Bauers went yard off Ohtani in the fifth inning. Ohtani was finished on the hill but remained in the lineup. He went one for three at the plate. Josh Naylor drove in the tie-breaking run in the sixth. The Tribe’s bullpen shut down the Angels’ bats giving James Karinchak his fifth save.

After the game when Civale was asked about facing off against Ohtani he said:

I love it. I’ve always loved it. When I was a kid playing in high school or college no matter who it was, I always loved playing against the other guy that was the bigger name… cause that’s been my story coming up playing baseball coming from New England. It’s never been me as a primary but I’m ok with that. I like the challenge it presents and it’s something I love to work through. I love pitching against those guys It makes for good baseball at the end of the day.

The Tribe wins the series in Anaheim and heads back to Cleveland to face the Minnesota Twins this weekend.