Ohtani, whose scheduled start on Tuesday will now come later in the week, looked fresh after an off-day on Thursday, going 2-for-4 with a double and the homer in a 4-3 loss in the series opener at Fenway Park.
“He’s so good,” said Angels right-hander Griffin Canning, who gave up two runs on six hits and two walks with seven strikeouts over six strong innings.
Ohtani opened his night with a double off the Green Monster in left on a 2-2 curveball from right-hander Nick Pivetta.
Ohtani went with a breaking ball down and away, getting just enough of it to lift it over the 37-foot, two-inch Monster and bring the Angels within one run.
It was Ohtani’s first homer at Fenway Park in his career, but he’s fared well there historically, batting .381 with three doubles and five RBIs in five games.
Ohtani’s performance was a good sign that he’s shaking out of a mini-slump, as he was hitting .143 with no extra-base hits over his past five games.
He’s made five starts this year, posting a 2.10 ERA with 40 strikeouts, 20 walks and two homers allowed in 25 2/3 innings.
Offensively, Ohtani is hitting .264/.309/.600 with 10 doubles, two triples, six stolen bases, 27 RBIs and 27 runs scored in 35 games.
Of his 11 homers this season, three have been pulled to right field, one has been hit to left and seven to center.
“An opposite-field home run doesn’t necessarily mean I’m on point with my swing,” Ohtani said.