Shohei Ohtani leaves another start early as Angels' skid hits 6 - ESPN

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Shohei Ohtani left the mound with finger pain for a third straight start Friday night.

With his Los Angeles Angels in a freefall and his future uncertain before the trade deadline, the two-way superstar is struggling against a host of challenges even more daunting than the blister and cracked fingernail that are preventing him from pitching at his unique peak.

Ohtani allowed four earned runs on five hits and left the mound in the sixth inning shortly before Mauricio Dubon's tiebreaking two-run single in the Houston Astros' 7-5 victory over the Angels.

Ohtani (7-5) was pulled after he walked Corey Julks to open the sixth, consulting with the Angels' training staff before his exit with those persistent problems in his pitching hand. Ohtani's final start before the All-Star break ended because of a fingertip blister, and he also dealt with a cracked nail last month.

«For the most part, things just didn't go the way I wanted to,» Ohtani said through his interpreter. «It's kind of been like that when I was on the mound.… I haven't really thought about when my next outing is. I'm just going to come to the field, see where my finger is at, and go from there.»

Ohtani said it's «hard to tell» how significant this injury will be.

«I'm frustrated to a certain point,» Ohtani said. «Not just me, but I feel the whole team is. I think it's just only natural when we can't win games that the frustration builds up.»

Ohtani, who allowed three walks and struck out seven, stayed in the game as a hitter and delivered two singles at the plate, but his Angels have lost a season-high six straight and 10 of 11.

«I just thought something wasn't looking right there in the sixth,» Angels manager Phil Nevin said. «I saw something