Ohtani stands alone with yet another multi-tool stat

ANAHEIM -- Two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani continues to make history.

Ohtani stole his 15th base of the year in the first inning of the Angels’ 8-3 loss to the Giants on Monday night at Angel Stadium. He became the first player to have at least 40 homers and 15 stolen bases through his club’s first 114 games of a season.

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The only other player with at least 40 homers and 15 stolen bases through a club’s first 120 games was Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. in 1998, who reached those levels in Seattle’s 117th game.

Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a double as the Angels took a one-run lead into the ninth inning, only for closer Carlos Estévez to blow the save and allow five runs as part of a six-run frame for the Giants.

Estévez was a perfect 23-for-23 in save opportunities but has failed to convert his past two at a crucial time, as the Angels have now lost seven straight. They fell to 56-58 and trail the Blue Jays by eight games for the final AL Wild Card spot, as their postseason odds continue to shrink.

“We just have to come back tomorrow and battle and fight,” Angels manager Phil Nevin said. “I keep saying it. I keep seeing it. I know the effort is there.

“We’re playing hard and playing to win. It’s tough when you lose. To lose this many games in a row in the position we’re in, it hurts. But I know what they’re going to do tomorrow.”

Nevin said he believes Estévez has been dealing with some fatigue, but the right-hander said he felt fine physically and simply missed his pitch locations. He was frustrated with his blown save but said he has to remain optimistic.

“No one likes losing, but it’s a tough patch and we’re going to get through it,” Estévez said. “We just have to keep our heads up.”

Ohtani, the overwhelming favorite to win the AL MVP Award for the second time in three seasons, hit his MLB-leading 40th homer on Thursday against the Mariners. He also started on the mound that day but left after four scoreless innings because of cramping in his right middle finger.

Ohtani remains on track to make his next scheduled pitching start on Thursday against San Francisco. The right-hander has made 21 starts, posting a 3.32 ERA with 160 strikeouts in 124 2/3 innings.

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Ohtani is on pace for 56 homers and 21 stolen bases. His career-high in homers is 46, and his career best in stolen bases is 26. Both marks were set during his MVP campaign in 2021. The franchise record for homers in a season is 47 by Troy Glaus in 2000.

On Monday, Ohtani also reached on a hustle double to open the sixth inning and scored the tying run on a two-out RBI single by C.J. Cron. Cron then scored after a double from Randal Grichuk that featured two errors by the Giants.

The Angels, though, couldn’t hold the lead. Lefty Patrick Sandoval went back out for the seventh inning but gave up a game-tying solo homer to J.D. Davis. It spoiled an otherwise strong outing from Sandoval, who struck out eight over 6 2/3 innings and allowed two runs on five hits.

“I think I’ve improved on what I was doing earlier this year, but this game was a tough pill to swallow,” Sandoval said. “I’m not happy with myself allowing them to tie it after we took the lead. I feel like I have to make better pitches in those situations.”

But the Angels went back in front in the bottom of the inning, as the Giants again made a costly defensive mistake. Grichuk hit a liner to right field, but AJ Pollock misread it and the ball went over his head for a triple. Luis Rengifo followed with a go-ahead RBI single.

The Angels almost lost that lead again in the eighth, as reliever José Soriano gave up a deep drive to center to Joc Pederson on a 3-1 fastball. Center fielder Mickey Moniak, however, made a leaping catch up against the wall to take away the potential game-tying homer.

The play ended up being overshadowed by San Francisco scoring six times in the ninth.

“In a spot like that, to be able to keep a one-run lead going into the ninth is the kind of stuff you do in the backyard as a kid,” Moniak said. “We had a lot of energy going into that inning. But, unfortunately, we couldn’t pull this one out.”