Dodgers vs Cubs: Shohei Ohtani Homers as LA Wins Roki Sasaki Debut, Sweeps Tokyo Series
The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Chicago Cubs, 6-3, in the second and final game of the Tokyo Series, and head back to L.A. with a 2-0 record to kick off the 2025 regular season.
Shohei Ohtani gave the fans at the Tokyo Dome what they came to see with a towering home run, while Roki Sasaki pitched three innings in his Major League debut, allowing just one run as he limited the damage after issuing five walks.
He had three strikeouts, generating five swings and misses.
The Dodgers offense got going early, as they plated two in the second inning on a passed ball and sacrifice fly.
Reigning NLCS MVP Tommy Edman then added one in the third with a home run — the first of the 2025 season.
In the fourth inning, Kiké Hernández demolished a baseball, hitting it 109.8 mph off the bat and 390 feet to deep left field to extend the Dodgers’ lead to 5-1 on a two-run homer.
The Cubs then scored a run in the fourth inning against reliever Luis Garcia, who was making his Dodgers debut.
Ohtani wasted no time getting that one back, though, as he hit a home run to right field that stood after a review, and sent the Tokyo Dome crowd into a frenzy.
Jack Dreyer relieved Garcia and gave up a run in the fifth inning in his MLB debut. Landon Lnack then pitched a scoreless sixth and seventh inning, while Kirby Yates pitched a scoreless eighth.
Alex Vesia closed the door with a scoreless ninth inning, moving the Dodgers to 2-0 on the year.
When Do the Dodgers Play Next?
The Dodgers now travel back to Los Angeles to play three more spring training games against the Angels in the Freeway Series from March 23-25.
Then, domestic Opening Day is March 27 as the Detroit Tigers come to Dodger Stadium for a three-game set.
Photo Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
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