Orioles fans boo Shohei Ohtani for failing to hit for cycle in Angels win at Camden Yards

2023-05-16
4 min read
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You've got to hand it to Orioles fans: Even when their team is down, they never stop having fun.

Likewise, they can demonstrate their displeasure when deprived of witnessing an incredible performance, such as the one Shohei Ohtani nearly gave them at Camden Yards on Monday.

Ohtani, who also started on the mound in the Los Angeles victory, had four hits and a walk vs. Baltimore, hitting two singles, a triple and a titanic 456-foot home run in a 9-5 Angels win.

But it was the double he didn't hit that earned Orioles fans' boos following his final at-bat in the top of the ninth. He instead got his second single of the game, keeping him a double away from the milestone performance.

Ohtani could only sheepishly laugh as he listened to the chorus of boos:

MORE: Shohei Ohtani strikeouts: Angels pitcher passes Babe Ruth

Surprisingly — or perhaps unsurprisingly — this is the second time this season Ohtani has fallen a hit shy of the cycle. Each time, he was starting at pitcher for Los Angeles, as well:

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Here is Ohtani hitting his three-run home run — which broke a 4-4 tie — and a standing triple in the top of the fourth and fifth innings, respectively.

MORE: What is the Bird Bath splash zone at Camden Yards?

On top of his incredible day at the plate, Ohtani was also credited with the win after a shaky day on the pitcher's mound. He gave up five earned runs while striking out five and walking two in seven innings pitched.

According to ESPN, he is the first starting pitcher to reach base five times in a single game since the Yankees' Mel Stottlemyre did it against Washington on Sept. 26, 1964.

Had Ohtani earned the double, he would have been MLB's first starting pitcher to hit for the cycle. He had two chances to reach that milestone, but instead grounded into a forceout in the seventh and got his second single in the ninth.

Not a bad day at the office, certainly — though not good enough for the Baltimore contingent.

And, considering how close they were to seeing a historic performance, could you blame them?