Shohei Puts on A Show

Ohtani gives up just one hit over 7 innings

By Pete Zarustica Orange County Tribune

Shohei Ohtani continues to make the remarkable look routine as he pitched a gem of a game and the Los Angeles Angels defeated the Washington Nationals 1-0 on Tuesday night in Anaheim.

Ohtani yielded just one hit in seven innings and went on to improve his record to 2-0 and drop his earned run average to an almost invisible 0.47. He struck out six batters and walked five.

Sports Retorts

Jim Tortolano

If you’re a long-time Rams follower, the return to LA – well, Inglewood – was poetic justice. And, in those dark days without the NFL, we tended to cover our ears and avert our eyes to all the news from the Gateway City regarding the so-called “Greatest Show on Turf” in which the Rams won one Super Bowl (against the Tennessee Titans) and lost one (against the New England Patriots).

Stan Kroenke’s gold-plated efforts brought the Rams back to sunny SoCal, along with two Super Bowl appearances and one NFL title. We are happy as clams.

But back in St. Louis there’s a whole metropolitan area without pro football. Or, to be more precise, the most prestigious variety. The revival of the onceawful XFL this spring has given fans on the Mississippi river a team to root for.

Transferring their love to the St. Louis Battlehawks has made turnstiles spin at Edward Jones Dome. Saturday’s game against the Vegas Vipers drew more than 35,000 fans, and a Week Four game put 38,310 paying fans in the seats.

Those are not NFL numbers, but neither are they NFL games. The success of the team – 6-2, so far – has revived a love of football in the area. If the Battlehawks can draw those kinds of

Continued on page 9

Late rally and Lakers are in

It took a powerful lateseason surge for the Los Angeles Lakers to rise from under .500 and qualify for the play-in game on Tuesday night.

The Lake Show put on another late show against the Minnesota Timberwolves at home, rallying from a double-digit deficit to beat the Wolves, 108-102. With the improbable win, the team now advances to the “real” playoffs and will face the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round on Monday.

Continued on page 10

Continued on page 10