Los Angeles Angels' Shohei Ohtani strikes out nine, hitless at plate in loss to Astros

ANAHEIM, Calif. — The second pitch Shohei Ohtani threw on Opening Day was a 98 mph fastball spotted on the very edge of the inside corner to Jose Altuve. By the end of Thursday night's first inning, the Los Angeles Angels' two-way sensation threw seven pitches at a higher velocity. Oftentimes in 2021, while feeling for command after a half-decade without consistent pitching, Ohtani eased into those higher velocities, saving the bigger numbers for tighter situations late in games.

Trusting it early shows just how much has changed for him on the mound in one year.

«He's just gradually gotten better command of his fastball — that's what I think the big difference is,» Angels manager Joe Maddon said after his team's season-opening 3-1 loss to the Houston Astros. «And you saw it again tonight — a lot of 97s and 99s. In the past, the early part of the game would be lower numbers until he needed it. Right now, even when it's not needed, he's still doing those things.»

Ohtani — limited, like all Angels starters, to the 80-pitch range because of the shortened spring training — allowed one run on four hits in 4⅔ innings against one of the most dangerous lineups in the league, with one walk and nine strikeouts. Three of those strikeouts came against Altuve, who had struck out three times in a game only three times through 11 previous major league seasons.

Despite the abbreviated pitch count, Ohtani threw seven 99 mph pitches, third-most in his career. The average velocity on his four-seam fastball, which seemed to display a little more cutting action, was 97.8 mph, more than two ticks higher than last year's average. The effect of that pitch noticeably played up his slider, which induced seven whiffs on nine swings.

Ohtani, coming