3:34 PM ET

  • ESPN News Services

BOSTON — Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani had his start shortened by a lengthy rain delay Monday afternoon after he allowed a run in two hitless innings against the Boston Red Sox.

The 28-year-old Ohtani gave up a run in the first inning by walking leadoff hitter Raimel Tapia and throwing two wild pitches before Rob Refsnyder‘s run-scoring groundout.

During the delay, Ohtani remained on the field while the grounds crew worked to keep the mound dry. At times, he even threw warm-up pitches while rain was falling.

After his club’s 5-4 victory, Angels manager Phil Nevin said there will be a conversation to see if Ohtani can pitch again sooner than his next scheduled spot in the rotation due to the length of Monday’s outing.

“I had no control over it,” Ohtani said through the Angels’ translator. “There’s nothing much I can do.”

The weather is about the only thing that could slow down the two-way star’s start on the mound this season. He has given up only two earned runs in 21 innings over four starts.

Ohtani struck out three and singled in each of his first two at-bats. He remained in the game as the designated hitter, a rule that was put in place before the 2022 season that allows a pitcher to stay in at DH when they are removed from the game, or to stay in as the pitcher if they are replaced as the DH. Ohtani threw 31 pitches, 20 for strikes.

“I felt like I could go back out there,” Ohtani said, regarding the delay. “But I didn’t know how long the rain delay was going to be.”

The Angels led the Red Sox 5-1 in the top of the third when play resumed after a 1-hour, 25-minute delay. Left-hander Tucker Davidson came in to replace Ohtani and picked up the win, allowing one run over 3.1 innings as Los Angeles hung on for the win.

The start of the game was also delayed by rain for 56 minutes.

“More than the rain, it was a really early game,” Ohtani said with regard to his preparation. “So, that was probably the hardest part.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.