TOKYO.— Japanese national hero Shohei Ohtani delivered a homer for the fans in Tokyo on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila), helping the Los Angeles Dodgers complete a two-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs in a landmark Major League Baseball season opener.
The game saw an unsteady debut for rookie fireballer Roki Sasaki, one of three Japanese players on the defending world champion Dodgers that made them a favourite for the Tokyo Dome crowd.
Los Angeles won 6-3 in a much more offense-driven game than Tuesday’s opener. Ohtani was joined by Dodgers teammates second baseman Tommy Edman and outfielder Kike Hernandez in recording their first home runs of the 2025 season.
The capacity crowd has hushed for each at bat by Ohtani in the series, anticipating long-ball heroics that made him the MLB’s first ever 50 home run, 50 stolen base man last season.
His shot to deep center field in the fifth inning bounced back onto the field, but after review by the umpires, it was upheld as a home run.
“I think it was great baseball, with some powerful, Major League-style home runs,” Ohtani told the exuberant crowd.
Right-hander Sasaki started off strong in the opening inning, fanning Cubs designated hitter and fellow countryman Seiya Suzuki with a 99 mph fastball to record his first strike out in the majors.
But his control wavered in the third inning, walking three batters, including a run home. He was pulled in the fourth inning, ending his first outing with five walks and three strikeouts.
Sasaki is now the 13th Japanese player to don a Dodger uniform in the majors, joining teammates Ohtani and pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who picked up the win on Tuesday in a 4-1 victory over Chicago.
