What started off so promisingly for the Cleveland Indians when third baseman Jose Ramirez hit a two-run home run in the top of the first inning quickly turned sour as the Los Angeles Angels entertained the home crowd with a barrage of run-producing hits at Angel Stadium Tuesday night.
The Angels (4-2) plated six runs in their first trip to the plate against Indians starting pitcher Josh Tomlin and never looked back, as they posted a 13-2 victory over the Indians (2-3), who managed just one hit in the loss.
PHOTOS: Cleveland Indians struggle in 13-2 loss to Los Angeles Angels
During the first inning, center fielder Mike Trout got the rally going when he smashed a 1-1 offering over the wall in right-center field, and the hits, as the old adage says, just kept on coming.
Left fielder Justin Upton and first baseman Albert Pujols followed with singles to shallow left and left-center field, respectively before right fielder Kole Calhoun flared a single into shallow center field, which brought in Upton for the game-tying run.
Calhoun came around to score when Tomlin fired a wild pitch with the bases loaded, and the big blow of the inning was off the bat of designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, who worked his way back into a count after being down, 1-2, and blasted a curveball over the wall in right-center field.
It was Ohtani’s first at-bat in front of the home fans in Anaheim.
Welcome to LA.
Shohei Ohtani goes yard in his first at-bat at Angel Stadium. pic.twitter.com/KlVIxElHqy
Courtesy of solo home runs from Upton and third baseman Luis Valbuena, the Angels added runs in the bottom of the second and third innings, respectively.
The Angels increased their lead over the Indians to 11-2 when they plated three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Pujols got the rally started with a single to right-center field off of Indians reliever Dan Otero and came around to score two batters later when shortstop Andrelton Simmons took a 1-2 pitch into left field for an RBI double.
After Valbuena followed with a walk, catcher Rene Rivera cleared the bases with a two-run double to the wall in right-center field.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Angels added a pair of runs when Rivera crushed a two-run home run over the wall in right-center field off of Indians reliever Zach McAllister. With the home run, Rivera brought around Ohtani, who singled to center to start the inning.
Tomlin lasted only three innings in his 2018 regular-season debut. He allowed eight hits, eight runs, all of which were earned, and four home runs against the Angels, and Otero did not fare much better, as he surrendered three earned runs and three hits in two innings of work.
