Introduction to the Tokyo Series
TOKYO — The moment the ball left Shohei Ohtani’s bat, the Tokyo Dome ceased being a baseball stadium and became something else entirely—a temple of noise, a cathedral of pure joy, a place where history was no longer a concept but something tangible, roaring, it was alive.
The Historic Home Run
Ohtani had done it–because of course he did–in front of his home country, in a major league game, at long last, he had homered. For a few moments there was confusion on whether or not the towering fly ball actually cleared the yellow line in right-center field. The fans gasped not knowing the outcome. The broadcasters on the call thought it was a double off the wall. Ohtani knew it was a home run. The umpires did too. After a few minutes of a replay review the call stood, and so did the fans in unison, as they roared and cheered their hometown hero. It wasn’t just a home run. It was a moment. A moment the entire country had been waiting for.
Roki Sasaki’s Debut
Before Ohtani sent Japan into euphoria, another homegrown star took center stage—Roki Sasaki, making his much-anticipated major league debut for the Dodgers. The 22-year-old phenom was erratic at times, issuing five walks in just three innings, but when he found his groove, he was as advertised. He struck out three batters with pure electricity, his fastball routinely touching 101 mph. The Tokyo Dome scoreboard flashed the numbers, and every time it did, a murmur rolled through the crowd.
The Dodgers’ Victory
The Dodgers made sure to back up their rookie pitcher with immediate run support. Max Muncy laced a double in the second inning, and a passed ball and sacrifice fly turned it into a 2-0 lead before the Cubs even knew what hit them. An inning later, Tommy Edman, the most unassuming power hitter you’ll ever see, smashed a solo shot to left. 3-0, Dodgers. In the fourth, Enrique Hernández turned on an inside fastball and yanked a two-run homer into the left-field seats. The Dodgers’ lead swelled to 5-1.
The Cubs’ Response
The Cubs didn’t go quietly. Ian Happ delivered an RBI single that cut the deficit to 5-2. That’s when Ohtani provided the dagger, restoring the Dodgers’ four-run cushion with one majestic swing in the fifth inning. From there, the Dodgers’ bullpen depth took over. Dansby Swanson roped a double down the left field line that cut the Dodgers lead to 6-3, but that would be as close as the Cubs would get.
The Final Outcome
Alex Vesia worked the ninth for the save, and after the final out was recorded, the Dodgers poured onto the field, victorious in Tokyo. The two-game series belonged to them. But the night? The night belonged to Ohtani. It wasn’t just that he homered. It was when. Where. How.
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