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Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani hits a two-run double during the seventh inning of Monday’s game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
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Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Alex Cobb delivers to a Kansas City Royals batter during the first inning of a baseball game at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Monday, April 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
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Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Brady Singer delivers to a Los Angeles Angels batter during the first inning of a baseball game at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Monday, April 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
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The Angels’ Jared Walsh, right, slides into third base as the ball gets past Royals third baseman Hanser Alberto, left, during the second inning of Monday’s game at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. Walsh scored on the play. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
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Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani singles during the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Monday, April 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
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Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, left, is tagged out by Kansas City Royals first baseman Carlos Santana (41) during the first inning of a baseball game at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Monday, April 12, 2021. Ohtani was picked off by Royals starting pitcher Brady Singer. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
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Angels starting pitcher Alex Cobb #38 throws to the plate during the first inning of Monday’s game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – APRIL 12: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels is tagged out by Carlos Santana #41 of the Kansas City Royals as he is caught stealing first base in the first inning at Kauffman Stadium on April 12, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – APRIL 12: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels hits a single in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on April 12, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – APRIL 12: Brady Singer #51 of the Kansas City Royals pitches in the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Kauffman Stadium on April 12, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – APRIL 12: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels hits a single in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on April 12, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – APRIL 12: Justin Upton #10 of the Los Angeles Angels celebrates with Albert Pujols #5 after scoring in the second inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on April 12, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – APRIL 12: Jared Walsh #20 of the Los Angeles Angels gets tied up with third baseman Hanser Alberto #49 of the Kansas City Royals as he heads to home base to score on a throwing error by Michael A. Taylor in the second inning at Kauffman Stadium on April 12, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – APRIL 12: Jared Walsh #20 of the Los Angeles Angels scores on a throwing error by pitcher Brady Singer to catcher Salvador Perez #13 of the Kansas City Royals in the second inning at Kauffman Stadium on April 12, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – APRIL 12: Manager Joe Maddon #70 of the Los Angeles Angels talks with plate umpire Chris Guccione in the third inning during a game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on April 12, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
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Kansas City Royals Salvador Perez get his 1000th career hit during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Monday, April 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
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Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Alex Cobb (38) hands the ball to manager Joe Maddon, right, during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals] at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Monday, April 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – APRIL 12: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels hits a two-run double in the seventh inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on April 12, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
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Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani gestures after his two-run double during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Monday, April 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
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Fans celebrate an RBI double by Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Monday, April 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – APRIL 12: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels celebrates his two-run double with third base coach Brian Butterfield #55 in the seventh inning at Kauffman Stadium on April 12, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
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Kansas City Royals manager Mike Matheny, right, takes out relief pitcher Carlos Hernandez, left, during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Monday, April 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – APRIL 12: Relief pitcher Aaron Slegers #57 of the Los Angeles Angels throws in the seventh inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on April 12, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – APRIL 12: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels hits a RBI single in the ninth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on April 12, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
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Kansas City Royals left fielder Andrew Benintendi fails to catch a fly ball hit by Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani during the ninth inning of a baseball game at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Monday, April 12, 2021. Ohtani got an RBI double on the play. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – APRIL 12: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run in the ninth inning at Kauffman Stadium on April 12, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
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Los Angeles Angels Mike Trout (27) is congratulated by Jared Walsh (20) after his two-run home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Monday, April 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
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Los Angeles Angels Shohei Ohtani, left, talks with David Fletcher, right, before a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., Monday, April 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – APRIL 12: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels heads to the dugout after warming up prior to a game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on April 12, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
The last time Joe Maddon managed Alex Cobb, he was one of the best pitchers in the majors.
Of course, much has happened since then, including Cobb going to the Baltimore Orioles and struggling enough that much of the baseball world had forgotten him.
But for five innings in the Angels’ 10-3 victory over the Royals on Monday night in Kansas City, Cobb reminded everyone – including his manager – what he used to do.
“That’s like a time warp,” Maddon said. “That’s what he looked like several years ago. It’s really impressive to watch.”
Cobb struck out 10 for the first time since 2014, when Maddon was his manager.
“When things are rolling and you’re able to do what you want with each pitch, it takes you back to some of your prime days,” Cobb said. “That’s what I’ve been working to get back to, to feel that way, to have a good rhythm in the game and be able to go to whatever pitch I want.”
The key for him was his splitter, which he threw 52 times out of his 97 pitches.
“When that split is dialed in, like it was tonight, that sets everything else up,” Maddon said.
Cobb said he had some moments this spring when he felt his splitter was this good, but “in a game, that’s the best it’s been in a while.”
Cobb retired 12 of 14 hitters on 65 pitches through five innings, and he didn’t allow a run, but the sixth somewhat tainted his outing.
Three straight Royals hitters reached to break up his shutout. Cobb was pulled with just one run on the board, but two more runs were charged to him when Jorge Soler singled against Steve Cishek.
That cut the lead to 4-3, but then Shohei Ohtani got the cushion back in the top of the seventh with a two-run double off the base of the right field fence. The ball left the bat at 119 mph, making it the hardest-hit ball in the majors so far this season.
“I have my lower body there, it’s strong,” Ohtani said through his interpreter. “That’s the biggest difference from last year. If it was last year I wouldn’t have been able to pull that ball that hard.”
Ohtani also had a bloop double, driving in another run, in the ninth. Ohtani leads the Angels with 11 RBIs this season, to go along with a .333 average and 1.109 OPS.
“He’s covering a lot of different pitches,” Maddon said. “He’s covering the high fastball. He’s covering away now. He’s not chasing like he had been earlier. So it’s just a matter of time. He’s going to get on a nice little streak and they’re just going to start popping, because the swing has that kind of force behind it.”
Mike Trout followed in the ninth with a two-run home run, his fourth homer of the season, to give the Angels a comfortable lead.
The night wasn’t without negatives, though.
Catcher Max Stassi was removed in the seventh inning with left thumb irritation after he was hit by a foul tip in the first inning.
Stassi said X-rays after the game were negative, and he’ll undergo an MRI on Tuesday.
“I’m already feeling better,” Stassi said, “so I’m pretty optimistic about it.”
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