Shohei Ohtani hit two three-run homers and set his career high with eight RBIs, but Whit Merrifield led off the 11th inning with an RBI double and the Kansas City Royals held on to beat the Los Angeles Angels 12-11 on Tuesday night.
Ohtani hit a 423-foot homer in the sixth and a 438-foot homer in the ninth, which also tied the scoreboard, in his game with the most RBIs in a five-year career. The American League MVP also became the Japanese with the most RBIs in a major league game with a sacrifice fly in the 11th.
But it wasn’t enough after Merrifield and Kyle Isbel drove in runs in the top of the 11th against José Quijada (0-2), who took the loss.
Daniel Mengden earned his first save of the season and the second of his career. The win went to Dylan Coleman (2-1), who stranded two Angels runners in the 10th inning.
For the Royals, the Venezuelan Salvador Pérez 1-0. Dominican Carlos Santana 5-4, with two runs scored and five RBIs. Puerto Rican Emmanuel Rivera 4-1.
For the Angels, the Venezuelan Luis Rengifo 5-0. Dominican Juan Lagares 3-0.