Angels intentionally walk Rangers’ Corey Seager with loaded bases; Ohtani achieves first HR of ’22

Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager is only the third player in the MLB expansion era (since 1969) to deliberately run with loaded bases in Friday’s game against the Los Angeles Angels.

At the end of the fourth inning, Angels left-handed pitcher Reid Detmers conceded a single on Andy Ibáñez, hit Nick Solak with a pitch, and then conceded a two-run double on Charlie Culberson.

After Eli White moved into right field, manager Joe Maddon Detmers drew. Marcus Semien pulled a walk from reliever Austin Warren, prompting the Angels to deliberately walk Seager with the bases loaded and one down. The deliberate walk allowed Culberson to score and double Rangers’ lead to 4-2.

Maddon’s decision backfired when Texas added two more runs in the inning, including Semien, who hit on a beam.

Seager joins Barry Bonds (1998) and Josh Hamilton (2008) in the list of players who intentionally walked around in a many-base situation. Hamilton was deliberately listed as a member of the Rangers against the Rays on August 17, 2008, which Maddon was then managing.

Earlier in the night, Angels leadoff hitter Shohei Ohtani hit his first home run of the season. Ohtani sent the 406-foot moonshot into right midfield in first place he faced in the first inning.

The two-way star added a second homer by smashing a 415-foot shot down right field in the fifth.

(Photo: Vaughn Ridley / Getty Images)