Another Shohei Ohtani outing, another MLB record broken as Angels superstar does it again

On a night that exhausted him physically and mentally, the Angels’ two-way starter fought through fatigue to win – and even made a little more baseball history.

Ohtani allowed one unintentional run in six innings of three-hit ball and picked up his 10th win of the season after Mike Moustakas hit a three-run homer in Los Angeles’ 4-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday night.

Ohtani (10-5) surpassed Babe Ruth in yet another measure of two-way transcendence in Big A, becoming the first player in major league history to have multiple seasons with 10 wins and 10 home runs. He is also the only player to record 10 wins on the mound and 40 hits in the same MLB season.

The achievements were barely recorded by Ohtani, who acknowledged he was tired and struggling in his latest dominant performance. The Angels’ training staff visited him on the mound in the sixth inning before he closed out the game.

“I was very frustrated with the way I was pitching,” Ohtani said through his translator. “I really didn’t feel good the whole game.”

After the game, Ohtani even acknowledged he might consider taking a day off – something he hasn’t liked to do, especially with Mike Trout out of the Angels’ lineup since July 3 with a broken hand.

“I think everyone is going through the peak of fatigue right now, this time of year,” Ohtani said. “I’m not the only one. If I have a day off tomorrow, I’ll see how I feel the next day, and if I think I need a day or two, I’ll talk to the team about it.”

Ohtani is reluctant to rest because he is realistic about his chances of making his first major league postseason appearance with the Angels (58-58), who ended their homestand with two straight wins after a seven-game skid that jeopardized their playoff chances. Los Angeles is seven games out of the final wild card spot with 46 games to play.

“I know the chance is not very big right now, but obviously it’s there,” Ohtani said. “We’re trying our best every game. We’re trying to get some wins, and we already have two in a row.”

Ohtani hasn’t allowed an earned run in 19 innings over his last three starts, but the AL MVP award leader has struggled against the Giants’ tenacious lineup while issuing three hits and striking out five. The major league leader in home runs also walked twice and hit a pair of base hits, scoring a run in the Angels’ decisive four-run rally.

Luis Rengifo hit into a double play and scored the tying run on Brandon Drury’s single before Moustakas hit a no-doubter to right.

Ohtani has pitched 13 consecutive scoreless innings in his last two starts, one of them at Detroit followed by a start against Seattle in the homestand opener that ended with just four innings due to hand cramps. Ohtani and the Angels said he was fine to return to the regular rotation, and he proved that quickly.

But the Giants extended several early hits against Ohtani and went ahead by an unintentional run in the second inning when Michael Conforto hit into a double play, advanced on catcher Matt Thaiss’ ill-conceived pickoff attempt and scored on Brandon Crawford’s fly ball. Ohtani threw 47 pitches in the first two innings before settling down.

“I think it’s fair to say he wasn’t in his best shape, but he fought hard and competed the whole game,” Thaiss said. “That’s what aces do.”

Moustakas homered for rookie Tristan Beck (3-1), who suffered his first major league loss. The Giants have lost four of five.

“I think (Beck) wants to make that pitch (to Moustakas) below the zone, but both (Moustakas and Drury) put good swings on the ball,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said.

After blowing his last two save opportunities in spectacular fashion, All-Star closer Carlos Estévez held on to secure his 24th save. Moustakas made a deft fielding play on a hard ground ball from Thairo Estrada to third base with runners on the corners.

Moustakas, 34, has become a favorite of Anaheim fans and a high performer since returning to his native Los Angeles in a trade with Colorado, with seven home runs and 23 RBIs in just 33 games for the Halos.

“I’m finally healthy and not battling any injuries, so I can play at the level I’m used to playing at,” Moustakas said. “The fun part about being in those games is getting the chance to get big runs. I love being in those situations and getting the job done.”