The Los Angeles Dodgers kicked off the Shohei Ohtani era in spectacular fashion with an impressive win on a night packed with memorable firsts.
Ohtani came through in the clutch with a crucial RBI single during a stunning four-run surge in the eighth inning of his debut for the Dodgers. This propelled Los Angeles to an exhilarating 5-2 victory over the San Diego Padres in the major league opener, marking the sport’s inaugural game in South Korea.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts hailed Ohtani’s performance, emphasizing the significance of having such a transcendent talent in a major market like Los Angeles. The spotlight is now firmly on the Dodgers and Major League Baseball as a whole.
The game’s momentum shifted dramatically when a routine ground ball slipped through the Padres’ first baseman Jake Cronenworth’s glove, allowing the decisive run to score.
Ohtani, who went 2 for 5 with an RBI, displayed his skills in his first game since joining the Dodgers with a historic $700 million, 10-year contract after leaving the Los Angeles Angels. A crowd of 15,952 eagerly witnessed the spectacle at the Gocheok Sky Dome.
The two-way phenom, currently limited to batting due to elbow surgery, also experienced a setback, resulting in the final out of the eighth inning. He was called out for passing second base and failing to retouch the bag while retreating during Freddie Freeman’s flyout, leading to an inning-ending double play.
Despite a pregame bomb threat, which authorities later dismissed, the game proceeded smoothly. Padres pitchers issued nine walks and hit a batter, while the Dodgers managed seven hits, all singles.
San Diego held a narrow 2-1 lead heading into the eighth inning when Max Muncy sparked the rally with a walk. Teoscar Hernández, also making his Dodgers debut, followed with a crucial single. Subsequent walks and a sacrifice fly tied the score before Cronenworth’s error allowed the go-ahead run.
Betts and Ohtani then sealed the victory with RBI singles. Betts, Ohtani, and Freeman made history as the first MVPs to bat consecutively in a lineup since 1993, contributing to a successful outing for the Dodgers.
Daniel Hudson earned the win with a stellar seventh inning, while Evan Phillips secured the save with a flawless ninth inning, securing the Dodgers’ sixth consecutive opening-day victory over the Padres.
Amidst the cheering crowd, Ohtani recorded his first hit with the Dodgers, a scorching 112.3 mph single against Yu Darvish. The game was filled with various noteworthy moments, including Xander Bogaerts’ historic hit and a strong performance from Tyler Glasnow, who recently joined the Dodgers.
Overall, it was an electrifying start to the season for the Dodgers, sparking excitement and anticipation for the games ahead.
