The Los Angeles Dodgers began the Shohei Ohtani era with a memorable victory in South Korea.
In his debut for the Dodgers, Ohtani hit a single that drove in a run and helped the team win 5-2 against the San Diego Padres in the first Major League Baseball game in South Korea.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts mentioned that it was a great night for Ohtani and emphasized the significance of having such a talented player on the team, attracting more attention to the Dodgers and Major League Baseball as a whole.
The game took a turn when a routine ground ball passed through the first baseman's glove, allowing the go-ahead run to score.
Ohtani, who recently signed a $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers, went 2 for 5 with an RBI in his first game for the team, which was observed by a crowd of 15,952 at the Gocheok Sky Dome.
Due to a mental error, Ohtani was called out in the eighth inning, leading to an inning-ending double play while retreating on a flyout.
Despite a bomb threat, the pregame preparations were not affected, and no explosives were found. The threat was reportedly targeted at Ohtani.
The Padres' pitchers gave up nine walks and hit a batter, while the Dodgers managed seven hits, none for extra bases.
The San Diego Padres were leading 2-1 entering the eighth inning when the Dodgers staged a comeback, resulting in a 5-2 victory.
A series of events, including walks, a sacrifice fly, and a chopper that was mishandled at first base, contributed to the Dodgers taking the lead.
Cronenworth, the first baseman, expressed regret over the mishap and considered it a crucial moment in the game.
Hernández's run gave the Dodgers a 3-2 lead.
Roberts acknowledged that it was a fortunate turn of events for the Dodgers and emphasized the importance of seizing such opportunities.
Following the defensive mishap, Betts and Ohtani each hit RBI singles, further securing the Dodgers' victory.
MVPs Betts, Ohtani, and Freeman made history by batting 1-2-3 in the lineup, a rare occurrence not seen since 1983.
In their new positions, Betts and Ohtani, at shortstop and at the top of the order, respectively, combined for a total of 4 hits out of 9 at-bats.
Daniel Hudson, the third of five Dodgers pitchers, had a strong performance in the seventh inning, allowing only one hit. Evan Phillips then closed the game with a perfect ninth inning, securing a sixth consecutive opening game win for the Dodgers against the Padres.
With new spouse Mamiko Tanaka watching from the sidelines, Ohtani achieved his first hit with the Dodgers in a 112.3 mph single to right against Yu Darvish. Ohtani was at bat in the first inning when Mookie Betts attempted to steal second base but was sent back because umpire Lance Barksdale interfered due to Luis Campusano behind the plate.
Xander Bogaerts put the Padres in the lead in the third inning with a run-scoring single off Tyler Glasnow. Bogaerts became the third player with hits in five countries after Edgardo Alfonzo and Paul Goldschmidt, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Bogaerts also has hits in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and England.
Jason Heyward had a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning, and San Diego went back ahead in the bottom half when Campusano hit a run-scoring double-play grounder.
Glasnow allowed two runs, two hits, and four walks over five innings, throwing 77 pitches. Los Angeles acquired him from Tampa Bay in December and signed the 30-year-old right-hander to a $136.5 million, five-year contract.
“The entire day was quite challenging,” Glasnow said. “Loud — cool atmosphere.”
Darvish allowed an unearned run and two hits in 3 2/3 innings.
Muncy got the first hit of the season, hitting a single off the end of his bat in the second inning and into center field.
Starting his 12th season, Bogaerts made his first big league appearance at second base as Ha-Seong Kim moved to shortstop.
In the first game since MLB shortened the pitch clock with runners on base by two seconds to 18, Padres pitchers were called for four violations, including two by Peralta and one each by Darvish and Yuki Matsui.
Matsui, the fourth of eight San Diego pitchers, got two outs in the sixth inning for his Padres. He agreed to a $28 million, five-year contract.
San Diego’s Ha-Seong Kim, playing in his home country, was 0 for 3 with a walk.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Dodgers: RHPs Walker Buehler (Tommy John surgery), Brusdar Graterol (shoulder inflammation), Blake Treinen (bruised lung) and Emmet Sheehan (right forearm inflammation) were placed on the 10-day IL. RHP Landon Knack was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Padres: RHPs Glenn Otto (right teres major strain) and Luis Patiño (right elbow inflammation) were placed on the 15-day IL and INF Tucupita Marcano (right knee ACL surgery on Aug. 9) on the 10-day IL.
UP NEXT
RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto makes his major league debut after agreeing to a $325 million, 12-year contract with the Dodgers. He had an 8.38 ERA over 9 2/3 innings in three spring training outings. “I’m not really concerned about the numbers,” he said through a translator. … RHP Joe Musgrove starts for the Padres after going 10-3 with a 3.05 ERA in 17 starts last year.
INTERPRETER FIRED
LOS ANGELES — Ohtani’s interpreter and close friend has been fired by the Los Angeles Dodgers following allegations of illegal gambling and theft from the Japanese baseball star.
Interpreter Ippei Mizuhara was let go from the team Wednesday following reports from The Los Angeles Times and ESPN about his alleged ties to an illegal bookmaker.
“In the course of responding to recent media inquiries, we discovered that Shohei has been the victim of a massive theft and we are turning the matter over to the authorities,” law firm Berk Brettler LLP said in a statement Wednesday.
Mizuhara has worked with Ohtani for a long time and been consistently with him in major league team meeting places. When Ohtani left the Los Angeles Angels to sign a $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers in December, the team also hired Mizuhara.
The team had no instant response Wednesday. Mizuhara’s dismissal was verified by Major League Baseball.
Ohtani’s fame has spread globally, even as the two-way player has mostly avoided the media. The news of his recent marriage to Mamiko Tanaka surprised fans from Japan to the U.S.
On Tuesday, Mizuhara told ESPN that his bets were on international soccer, the NBA, the NFL and college football. MLB regulations forbid players and team staff from betting — even legally — on baseball and also prohibit betting on other sports with illegal or offshore bookmakers.
“I never bet on baseball,” Mizuhara told ESPN. “That’s 100%. I knew that rule … We have a meeting about that in spring training.”
The Associated Press could not immediately reach Mizuhara for comment Wednesday.