Shohei Ohtani outduels Blue Jays’ Alek Manoah as Toronto’s bats go silent in loss to Angels

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It was Shotime versus Manoah Mania, a much-anticipated showdown that exceeded the billing.

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This marquee pitching matchup at Rogers Centre, pitting Shohei Ohtani and Alek Manoah, had it all — moments of brilliance, dominance and pure drama.

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The Jays have played in much more meaningful games, exchanged hits and pitches against teams with records much superior to L.A.’s, but Saturday turned out to be one of those scintillating days at the ballpark.

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And fans can thank the game’s starters.

Both Ohtani and Manoah went seven innings, with the Angles clinging to a 1-0 lead.

Ohtani gave up two hits and at one point retired 11 in a row. Manoah wasn’t that far off as a sold-out crowd witnessed the ultimate pitchers’ duel.

Ultimately, the Angels prevailed 2-0 to hand the Jays their second shutout loss in as many games.

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Andrew Velazquez, L.A.’s No. 9 hitter, belted his eighth home run in the eighth inning off Anthony Bass.

The Jays generated only two hits.

Ohtani earned the win, Manoah took the loss.

There was a certain buzz at the ballpark, whether it was caused by the free jackets being handed out, the pre-game festivities honouring the 30th anniversary of the Jays’ first title team or the simple fact two high-end and high-profiled pitchers were on the mound.

Manoah’s entrance and the resounding applause he received set the tone from an actual baseball perspective.

Ohtani was greeted more with amazement than adulation, but the fans’ appreciation for baseball’s unicorn was palpable nonetheless.

On a sun-drenched day with the roof wide open, an event took place.

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As one might expect, hits were few and far between.

In fact, through innings only three combined hits would be produced, including two by the Jays.

Manoah hit a batter, but he only yielded one hit.

He did surrender a hit to Ryan Aguilar to lead off the top half of the fifth.

Aguilar stroked it to right field for what turned out to be his first-career hit. He tried to stretch a double into a triple and was easily thrown out by Jackie Bradley Jr.

Bradley recorded the inning’s second out when easily handled a fly ball off the bat of Max Stassi. Manoah struck out Velazquez to end the inning.

In L.A.’s next at-bat, Mike Trout came to the plate after David Fletcher reached base on a single. Trout walked to put runners at first and second with none out.

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Up stepped Ohtani, who fouled off a 1-2 pitch and then a second pitch.

A third successive pitch would be fouled off as the drama heightened.

And then came a fourth.

On the next pitch, Ohtani hit a grounder to Manoah, who turned and threw to second for the force out.

First base umpire John Libka ruled Ohtani out at first, but the play was overturned.

Luis Rengifo singled on a line drive to left to score Fletcher as the game’s first run was produced.

Manoah ended the inning with back-to-back Ks. His day would end following seven strong innings, an outing that featured eight strike outs, four hits and two walks.

NOT-SO SWEET 16

The Angels had a runner on first when leadoff hitter David Fletcher reached base on a Bo Bichette error.

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Bichette handled the grounder cleanly, but he would then bobble it when transferring the ball to his throwing hand.

Fletcher beat out the throw and Bichette was justifiably charged with an error, his 16th of the season.

When the Jays were in New York to face the Yankees and then in Boston, Bichette made an error in each series.

Bichette batted cleanup in the order Saturday.

The error didn’t cost the Jays, but it did allow the Angels to threaten to open the scoring in their first at-bats.

After striking out Trout, Manoah walked Ohtani as Fletcher advanced to second.

BY GEORGE, HE’S BACK

George Springer made his return to centre field for the first time since he came off the injured list.

His most recent start in centre came on July 28.

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When healthy, he’s a highlight reel in the outfield.

Springer has been used in right, but it’s in centre where his athleticism and anticipation shine brightest.

He hasn’t been healthy, setbacks to his knee and elbow that have kept Springer out of the lineup or restricted in where he plays defensively.

Springer is the catalyst on offence and he began the day by getting on base on a leadoff single to left.

TEO KAYOED

Teoscar Hernandez was out of the lineup Saturday after leaving Friday’s game with a left foot contusion.

Hernandez fouled a ball off his foot in the first inning before striking out. He then left the game with a left foot contusion.

Hernandez will have the injury re-assessed, but in the meantime he’s listed as day to day.

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Bradley started in right with Raimel Tapia in left.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was not in the starting lineup.

POMP AND CEREMONY

Diehards of the team, and dare we say opportunists hoping to make a quick buck on the open market, began to line up early to get their hands on the retro jackets the club was handing out to the first 15,000 fans as part of the 1992 World Series celebration.

Fans then waited as the actual ceremony played out, one that featured convertible entrances and the predictable videos from the team’s historic win over the Braves.

Another aspect of the pre-game occasion had Mike Timlin and Joe Carter recreate the final out.

They even had Anne Murray’s rendition of the national anthem.

Canada’s Snowbird belted out the anthem when the Jays played their first game at SkyDome back in 1989 against Milwaukee and prior to Game 3 of the World Series versus Atlanta.

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