ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani hit his 16th homer of the season, Taylor Ward hit the go-ahead drive and the Los Angeles Angels rallied past the Seattle Mariners 12-5 Saturday night.
The Angels came back after Seattle starter Yusei Kikuchi was hit in the right knee by David Fletcher’s comebacker in the fifth inning. Kikuchi fell to the ground writhing in pain and exited with a bruise.
Ward gave Los Angeles a 6-5 lead with a two-run homer with two outs in the sixth off Drew Steckenrider (2-2).
Max Stassi also homered for the Angels, who have won five of their last seven. They are 9-9 since three-time AL MVP Mike Trout went on the injured list due to a sore right calf.
Los Angeles trailed 5-1 in the fourth inning after Jake Fraley hit his first career grand slam. The Angels then scored in five straight innings, capped by a five-run eighth.
Alex Cobb (4-2) went seven innings, allowing three hits in his third straight win. He retired the last 11 batters he faced after giving up the grand slam.
Ohtani, who struck out 10 while pitching the Angels past the Mariners on Friday night, hit a solo home run in the first. He added an RBI double in the eighth.
Stassi’s solo homer made it 4-2 in the fourth.
With one out and a runner on first in the fifth, Fletcher grounder struck Kikuchi. Catcher José Godoy grabbed the ball and tried to throw out Fletcher at first, but his toss sailed high into right field, allowing Ward to score from first.
Seattle trainers attended to Kikuchi and the Japanese left-hander exited with the Mariners were leading 5-3. Fletcher later scored on a two-out single by Anthony Rendon.
The Angels added a run in the seventh on a Rendon RBI grounder before breaking it open in the eighth.
Cobb retired Seattle in order the first three innings before running…
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