The Sho is underway. Shohei Ohtani crammed up the field rating as he made his Dodgers debut at the moment towards the Padres in Sport 1 of the Seoul Sequence on the Gocheok SkyDome in Korea.
Ohtani’s much-anticipated starting featured energy and velocity. He clocked a pitch at 112.3 mph for a third-inning single, his first hit along with his new membership. He adopted that rapidly — actually — along with his first stolen base in Dodger blue.
The 2-time unanimous AL MVP capped his first recreation of the season with an RBI single within the eighth that introduced house the ultimate run in Los Angeles’ 5-2 victory.
Here’s a recap of what occurred in every of Ohtani’s first 5 at-bats of the 2024 common season.
Eighth inning (vs. Adrian Morejon): Ohtani provides to Dodgers’ lead with first RBI
The Dodgers entered the eighth trailing, 2-1, however then strung collectively three run-scoring performs — a sacrifice fly, a fielding error due to a damaged glove and a Mookie Betts RBI single — to leap in entrance. That set the stage for Ohtani. The primary pitch he noticed from Morejon was a 98 mph sinker off the within nook, however Ohtani muscled it into middle area for a single and his first Dodgers RBI. The knock scored Gavin Lux and gave Los Angeles a 5-2 benefit.
It was Ohtani’s second profession RBI on Opening Day. The only additionally gave him his first multihit recreation to start a season. With a 2-for-5 displaying in Sport 1 of the Seoul Sequence, Ohtani is 5-for-30 on Opening Day.
Seventh inning (vs. Wandy Peralta): Ohtani cannot beat out dribbler
Ohtani could not sq. up a down-and-in changeup from the left-handed Peralta, who hustled towards the first-base line, picked up the dribbler, spun and threw out Ohtani by a step at first.
Fifth inning (vs. Tom Cosgrove): Ohtani robbed of opposite-field single
Very similar to his first at-bat, Ohtani’s third at-bat got here after Betts reached to start out the inning. Dealing with the left-hander Cosgrove, Ohtani fought off a 1-0 sinker, grounding it to the left facet of the infield. The ball got here near squeaking by way of, however third baseman Tyler Wade made a unbelievable diving cease and flip to retire Betts, giving Ohtani his second fielder’s alternative of the sport.
Third inning (vs. Darvish): Ohtani strains his first Dodgers hit, steals second
With two out, Ohtani dealt with a 2-2 fastball up within the zone from Darvish and blistered it into proper area at 112.3 mph — his hardest-hit ball on any Opening Day. It was Ohtani’s fourth Opening Day hit, all of that are singles. The bottom hit got here two pitches after Ohtani drilled a foul ball deep down the right-field line at 119.2 mph.
Ohtani then took off for second on the primary pitch to Freddie Freeman and picked up his first stolen base with the Dodgers. The throw from Padres catcher Luis Campusano wasn’t even shut. It was Ohtani’s first steal try on Opening Day.
The Dodgers finally loaded the bases, and Ohtani was stranded on third when Darvish struck out Max Muncy to get out of the inning.
First inning (vs. Darvish): Ohtani exhibits off his velocity
After Betts drew a leadoff stroll, Ohtani slapped a 2-1 sinker from Darvish to Padres shortstop Ha-Seong Kim. Ohtani bolted down the first-base line to show a possible double play right into a easy fielder’s alternative.
