Shohei Ohtani threw the first complete-game shutout of his major league career Thursday, allowing just one hit in the Los Angeles Angels' 6-0 win over the Detroit Tigers in Game 1 of a doubleheader.
His dominant performance at Comerica Park came after Angels general manager Perry Minasian confirmed earlier in the day that the team would not trade the two-way star this summer.
Ohtani (9-5) was perfect until Kerry Carpenter lined a single to center leading off the fifth inning for the Tigers. The right-hander walked three and struck out eight in a 111-pitch outing.
At the plate, Ohtani went hitless in five at-bats, striking out twice.
In five seasons in Japan, all with the Nippon Ham Fighters, Ohtani threw seven complete-game shutouts.
Taylor Ward and Trey Cabbage drove in three runs apiece for the Angels, who are making a push to end their eight-year postseason drought.
Ward homered twice, once with a runner on in the sixth and again two innings later. Cabbage had a sacrifice fly in the second and singled in two runs in the fourth.
Tigers starting pitcher and former Angel Michael Lorenzen (5-7) gave up three runs in five innings.
In Game 2, Ohtani homered in the second and fourth innings, boosting his MLB-leading home run total to 38.
