Shohei Ohtani’s return to the mound at Angel Stadium wasn’t just another start on the calendar — it was a collision of past and present, played out under the familiar orange glow of a Southern California summer night.

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani on Wednesday night faced his former team, the Los Angeles Angels, for the first time as a pitcher in what turned out to be a potentially crucial losing effort for the visitors.