The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have been dominating the American League West and after winning their series, the Angels remain on top of the AL West.

The Angels trailed the Washington Nationals for the entirety of Sunday’s Mother’s Day game until the bottom of the ninth. The game had remained stagnant at 4-2, since the top of the seventh.

At the bottom of the ninth, two Angels struck out swinging, including three-time MVP Mike Trout. The Nationals were ready to win a series against the American League West’s top competitor, until Shohei Ohtani stepped up to the plate.

This season, Shohei Ohtani has not performed as well as he did during his 2021 MVP season. To date, he has only hit four home runs compared to his 46 home runs during the 2021 season. Ohtani’s slow offensive start has moved him from the top of the batting order.

With one strike and two outs, Shohei Ohtani doubled off the wall just out of the reach of Rays center fielder, Victor Robles. Tanner Rainey tried to sneak an 87 MPH slider away to Ohtani, however the pitch caught too much of the plate and Ohtani did not miss. His double drove in both Luis Rengifo, who walked, and Taylor Ward, who singled. With the game tied up 4-4, Anthony Rendon singled against his former team, allowing for Shohei Ohtani to score.

Up until Sunday, Rendon was zero-for-eight against the Nationals this season. Hopefully Sunday night’s game-winning single will result in a breakthrough for the former World Series champion.

The Angel’s lead the American League West and their 5-4 victory over the Nationals helped maintain a .633 PCT and a half-game lead over the Astros.

Image Courtasy of AP Photo/Ashley Landis