Angels phenom Shohei Ohtani hammers 470-foot homer vs. Royals

June 9 (UPI) -- Shohei Ohtani smacked the longest home run of his career for his latest exploit in what continues to be a historic season for the dynamic playmaker.

The Los Angeles Angels pitcher/designated hitter hit the towering blast in an 8-1 win over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif.

"That was the farthest ball I've seen hit here," Angels manager Joe Maddon told reporters. "I've never seen one hit there before."

Angels starting pitcher Andrew Heaney retired the Royals in order in the top of the first inning. Angels left fielder Justin Upton took a walk in the first at-bat in the bottom of the inning.

Ohtan stepped up to the plate as the Angels' second hitter of the game. He took a called strike from Heaney on the first pitch. Ohtani worked the count even at 2-2 and fouled off Heaney's fifth pitch.

Ohtani proceeded to smash Heaney's sixth offering of the exchange, an 80.2-mph changeup, to right center field. The blast traveled 111.7-mph off Ohtani's bat and went an estimated 470 feet.

Max Stassi hit another two-run homer for the Angels in the bottom of the third inning. Jose Iglesias and Upton added solo homers in the fourth frame.

Hanser Alberto plated Michael A. Taylor with an RBI double for the Royals' lone run in the seventh inning. Angels right fielder Taylor Ward brought in the final runs of the game with another two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Heaney allowed six hits and one run in 6 2/3 innings to improve to 4-3 this season. Kris Bubic allowed six hits and six runs in four innings to drop to 1-1 for the Royals.

Ohtani went 2 for 3 with two RBIs, two runs scored, a walk and a strikeout in the win. He is hitting .261 with 17 home runs and 44 RBIs this season.

He is 2-1 with a 2.76 ERA in eight starts as a pitcher in 2021.

The Angels (29-32) host the Royals (29-30) in the final game of the series at 9:38 p.m. EDT Wednesday at Angel Stadium. Ohtani is expected to return to the mound when the Angels face the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday in Phoenix.