Shohei Ohtani Sparks Rally as Dodgers Beat Cubs in the MLB Tokyo Series Opener

Shohei Ohtani sparked a three-run rally on Tuesday, March 18 as the Los Angeles Dodgers began their World Series title defense with a 4-1 win over the Chicago Cubs in the MLB season-opening Tokyo Series.

The game started out as a historic showdown between Japanese pitchers Shota Imanaga of the Cubs and Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the Dodgers.

It was the first time in the history of MLB that two Japanese pitchers faced each other to start the season.

Both pitchers were impressive before a near-capacity crowd of 42,365 at Tokyo Dome. Imanaga gave up no hits while striking out two and walking four over four scoreless innings. He threw 69 pitches.

Yamamoto, who was the winner, struck out four while giving up one run on three hits in a 72-pitch effort over five innings.

Tokyo Series — *Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto (©SANKEI)*

"I felt great, and everyone's cheering gave me strength," Yamamoto said after the game. "It was a special feeling to open the season in Tokyo, so I gave it my all to win."

For Yamamoto, the MLB postseason in October 2024, especially in Game 2 of the World Series, provided valuable pitching lessons.

"What I experienced in October, I learned a lot of things," Yamamoto told reporters. "What I should and what I shouldn't do in certain situations. Based on that, I feel more confident."

Dodgers Skipper Happy with Yamamoto's Tokyo Series Performance

"Great outing," Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said of Yamamoto. "I thought he commanded the baseball really well tonight. The fastball, split, breaking ball, the fastball was as good as we've seen. He competed really well, there was some soft contact out there, he just navigated the game really well."

Roberts also commented on the historical aspect of two Japanese pitchers facing each other for the first time in an opening-day game.

"I don't think that there was a Japanese baseball player in Japan that didn't watch this game tonight," Roberts said. "I'm sure that they can see themselves in this situation."

Added Roberts, "As I've said before, right now, this is as good as the Japanese players as a whole have been compared to Major League Baseball."

Chicago Takes Early 1-0 Lead

The Cubs opened the scoring in the bottom of the second. Miguel Amaya doubled on a fly ball to center, scoring Dansby Swanson from second.

Swanson singled to center off Yamamoto for the first hit of the game and advanced to second on a grounder to second by Pete Crow-Armstrong.

Ben Brown came in to replace Imanaga to start the fifth and the Dodgers pounced on his mistakes, in particular a crucial walk to Andy Pages after striking out Miguel Rojas.

After the walk to Pages, designated hitter Ohtani then got his first hit of the night with a sharply hit liner to right field that allowed Pages to advance to third.

"[Brown] did a great job with the first hitter, striking out Rojas to start his outing," Chicago manager Craig Counsell said. "But the walk to Pages with Ohtani coming up was less than ideal. Walks are gonna burn you eventually and that was the key walk in the game, no question about it."

Edman Delivers a Game-Tying Single

In the next at-bat, the 2024 World Series champions tied the game when Tommy Edman singled to left and Pages scored.

Teoscar Hernandez grounded to third baseman Matt Shaw, who threw the ball to second baseman Jon Berti for the forceout of Edman. But Berti made a throwing error to first, allowing Ohtani to score from second to give his team a 2-1 lead.

The Dodgers then made it 3-1 when Will Smith singled on a line drive to left, scoring Hernandez from second.

"The error cost us a run in the fifth, you play a team like the Dodgers you've got to do things right," Counsell said. "Defensively we are very strong but that mistake tonight really cost us."

Ohtani Goes 2-for-5 in Tokyo Series Opener

Ohtani ripped a double down the line in the top of the ninth, advanced to third on an Edman groundout and scored the fourth run of the game on a Teoscar Hernandez single to left.

The 2024 NL MVP finished the night 2-for-5 with two runs scored and one strikeout.

After the game, he reflected on what it has been like playing these important games in his homeland.

"It's been a while since I felt this nervous playing a game," Ohtani said. "In that sense in the first couple of at-bats I felt pressure but I was glad I was able to adjust in the at-bats later in the game."

Effective Pitching by Imanaga

Imanaga got Ohtani to ground out to second to start the game. Ohtani hit a sharp liner to second in his second at-bat in the third inning.

The Cubs southpaw got into a jam in the second when he walked the first two batters but got the next three to pop out to end the threat.

Mookie Betts was not in the starting lineup due to illness. Freddie Freeman, the 2024 World Series MVP, also did not start for the Dodgers.

Kike Hernandez was due to start in left field, took Freeman's spot at first base while Michael Conforto was put into to the lineup to play left field.

Numerous US media outlets reported that Freeman was scratched due to left rib discomfort.

Game 2 of the Tokyo Series is on Wednesday.