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July 1 (UPI) -- American League MVP contender Shohei Ohtani allowed seven runs in less than an inning in his worst start this season, but the Los Angeles Angels rallied late to beat the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. The Angels trailed 8-4, but scored seven runs in the ninth inning of the 11-8 win Wednesday in New York. Angels first baseman Jared Walsh sparked the rally with a game-tying grand slam off Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman.
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"Since I've been here, that's probably the craziest, best result we've had," Angels manager Joe Maddon told reporters.
Ohtani, who leads MLB with 28 home runs, went 0 for 1 in the victory. He was replaced by relief pitcher Aaron Slegers and lasted for 2/3 of an inning on the mound.
Left fielder Phil Gosselin gave Ohtani some insurance with a two-run homer in the top of the first, but the Angels pitcher was off-target from the start.
Ohtani walked D.J. LeMahieu, Luke Voit and Gary Sanchez in his first three exchanges. Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton and shortstop Gleyber Torres followed with RBI singles to tie the score at 2-2.
Yankees left fielder Miguel Andujar brought in another run on a groundout. Ohtani walked center fielder Brett Gardner with the bases loaded to bring in the Yankees' fifth run of the frame.
Slegers stepped in for Ohtani to face LeMahieu, who then doubled to clear the bases. Sleger retired Voit to end the chaotic inning.
Angels center fielder Juan Lagares plated Jose Iglesias on a second-inning double. The Angels cut the deficit to three runs on a Walsh solo homer in the fifth.
Gardner responded with a solo homer in the eighth and the Yankees carried a four-run lead into the ninth. The Yankees brought in closer Aroldis Chapman to end the game.
Chapman walked three of the first four Angels batters he faced. Walsh then smacked a 1-0 Chapman slider to right field for a 401-foot grand slam to tie the game at 8-8.
"Euphoria, that's the only way I can describe it," Walsh told reporters. "It was great. He's one of the best closers I've seen over the last decade.
"I've got a ton of respect for him. It's a pretty special moment to do that against someone I respect as much as I do."
The Yankees took Chapman out and replaced him with fellow reliever Lucas Luetge. Luetge walked Gosselin and allowed a David Fletcher single in his first two exchanges. Luis Rengifo plated Gosselin and Fletcher with a go-ahead single two at-bats later.
Angels outfielder Taylor Ward brought in the final run of the game with an RBI double three pitches later.
Walsh went 2 for 5 with five RBIs and two runs scored for the Angels. Iglesias also recorded two hits in the victory. Stanton and Gardner collected two hits apiece for the Yankees. LeMahieu went 1 for 4 with three RBIs, a run scored and a walk in the loss.
Angels relief pitcher Raisel Iglesias retired the final three Yankees in order to earn his 15th save of 2021.
Ohtani allowed two hits and walked four in his short start. Yankees starter Domingo German allowed three hits and three runs and issued three walks in three innings.
The Yankees (41-39) host the Angels (39-41) in the final game of the series at 1:05 p.m. EDT Thursday at Yankee Stadium.
