Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani upset A’s center fielder Mark Canha with a 93.3 mph fastball up and in in the third inning of Friday’s game, causing both benches to briefly clear.
Canha appeared to say, “Come on, Sho,” after the pitch was thrown near his head, prompting Angels catcher Kurt Suzuki to take offense. But Ohtani remained calm, raising his right hand to Canha to apologize for coming up-and-in with the fastball.
Ohtani was unfazed by the whole incident, as he was seen smiling on the mound as Canha exchanged words with Suzuki, waiting for the baseball to be returned to him for the next pitch.
A few pitches later, Ohtani — ever the picture of calm — struck out Canha on a 97.9 mph fastball that also saw Elvis Andrus get thrown out at second on a stolen base attempt for a double play. It was the hardest-thrown pitch of the night at that point from Ohtani.
Unbelievably, Ohtani hit Canha in the back with a 1-0 fastball his next time up in the sixth inning, with Andrus on first base and nobody out. Ohtani stumbled on the delivery and fell to one knee, while Canha took it in stride and never took offense to the pitch, as it was clear that there was no intent.
He even smiled at first base, Ohtani indicating to him that it was an accident. After a sacrifice bunt, Matt Olson gave the A’s the lead with a sacrifice fly to left.
