Shohei Ohtani’s first trip to Japan as a major league player did not disappoint, with the Dodgers star wowing crowds at Tokyo Dome in a dominant performance that showcased his incredible skills. The sellout crowd, which paid thousands of dollars for tickets on the secondary market, was treated to a show they will remember.
Ohtani hit a towering home run in the fifth inning, and his fifth-inning shot was confirmed as his first homer of 2025 after an umpires’ review. He reached base five times, scored three runs, and dominated conversation on and off the field.
The Dodgers rookie starter Roki Sasaki also made his regular-season debut in Tokyo, but struggled with nerves. Despite a mesmerizing display of talent, Sasaki allowed just one hit and walked five batters, throwing more balls than strikes.
Sasaki’s performance was marked by moments of emotion and nervousness, but he showed flashes of brilliance on the mound. His split pitch is being described as one of the best in baseball, and his velocity was good, but it was hard to rein in the adrenaline rush.
Ohtani, meanwhile, continued to live up to expectations, with two more at-bats after his home run. The crowd’s attention was divided between Ohtani’s performance and Counsell’s strategic decisions, which included walking him intentionally with Andy Pages on second and two outs in the seventh.
The Dodgers’ 6-3 win over the Cubs in the Tokyo Series capped off a dominant performance by Ohtani, who proved why he is one of baseball’s most exciting players.
Source: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/44314472/shohei-ohtani-homers-dodgers-sweep-cubs-japan