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Angels close losing season with a home win over Oakland

The Angels' Brandon Drury is congratulated after his home run against the Oakland Athletics Sunday.
The Angels’ Brandon Drury is congratulated after his home run against the Oakland Athletics in the fifth inning Sunday in Anaheim.
(John McCoy / Associated Press)
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The final day of the Angels’ season began with rain, a tarp on the field and puddles in the dugout. Of course the last day of a bumpy season would end with uncharacteristically inclement weather in Anaheim.

The tarp came off the field in time for the scheduled first pitch and the Angels earned a 7-3 win over the Athletics on Sunday. Shohei Ohtani finishing the season with the most home runs in the American League.

Ohtani also became the first Japanese player to finish a season with the most home runs in either league.

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The Angels seemingly improved the roster and made trades at the deadline in an effort to win with Shohei Ohtani. It ended with another losing campaign and an uncertain offseason.

Oct. 1, 2023

“It’s quite an honor and I’m humbled when you think about the great players that have come before me that have played MLB from Japan,” Ohtani said in a statement shared through the team.

“Thank you to my teammates, coaching staff and fans that helped me to achieve this goal.”

The Angels finished the season 73-89, the same record they had last season.

“I know it didn’t go the way we wanted it, but I’m proud of the way that room held together,” manager Phil Nevin said after the game. “It’s not fun ending the way we did, but it’s a great group in there, there’s a lot of good things that are on the horizon here with the young players and the guys coming back. Good future.”

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