‘Ohtani’s multi-hit’ Dodgers come from behind to win 5-2 against Kim Ha-seong’s SD in the opening game in Seoul
The LA Dodgers achieved a historic victory by defeating the San Diego Padres in the opening game of the Major League Baseball (MLB) regular season held for the first time in Korea. ‘700 Million Dollar Man’ Shohei Ohtani contributed to the team’s victory by hitting multiple hits (more than 2 hits in one game) in his official debut after transferring to the Dodgers.
The Dodgers scored 4 runs in the top of the 8th inning and achieved a 5-2 comeback victory in Game 1 of the 2024 Major League Baseball Series held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the 20th.
Ohtani, who signed a 10-year contract with the Dodgers worth a total of $700 million ahead of this season, recorded 2 hits in 5 at-bats, 1 RBI, and 1 stolen base in his first official game after transferring to the Dodgers.
Ohtani, who reported his first hit by hitting a right-handed hit against Yu Darvish in the top of the third inning, hit a timely hit in the top of the eighth inning and even raised his first RBI.
Kim Ha-seong, who started as San Diego’s fifth hitter and shortstop, recorded no hits and one walk in three at-bats. Ha-seong Kim, who entered the Major League in 2021, had 1 hit, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts, 1 stolen base, and 2 runs in 11 at-bats.
The starting pitchers of both teams failed to achieve victory. San Diego’s Darvish recorded 2 hits, 3 walks, 3 strikeouts, and 1 run (unearned) in 3⅔ innings, and Tyler Glasnow of the Dodgers lasted 5 innings (2 hits, 4 walks, 3 strikeouts, 2 runs), but did not meet the winning pitcher requirements.
Dodgers reliever Daniel Hudson, who came on the mound in relief in the bottom of the 7th inning and allowed no runs through 1 inning, became the winning pitcher in the Seoul Series with the help of the batting lineup. The 37-year-old veteran, who debuted in the big leagues in 2009, achieved his 60th win (43 losses) in his career.
San Diego took the lead. San Diego created a chance in the bottom of the third inning by stealing second base after Tyler Wade walked. Jackson Merrill’s advanced base hit brought the team to third base with one out, and Xander Bogaerts caught Glasnow’s low cutter and hit a timely hit.
The Dodgers failed to score even after putting out runners for three consecutive innings in the first half. There was no follow-up hit in the top of the second inning with no outs on second base, and in the top of the third inning, after Ohtani’s first hit, he got two walks and had the bases loaded with two outs, but Max Muncy struck out on a missed swing.
However, an error by the opponent in the top of the 4th inning tied the game. San Diego third baseman Tyler Wade made an error while catching Teoscar Hernández’s ground ball and throwing it to first base. This became the problem, allowing the game to be tied when Jason Hayward’s sacrifice fly to right field occurred with one out and runners on third base.
However, San Diego took the lead again in the bottom of the fourth inning. Manny Machado and Ha-seong Kim drew walks, and Jurickson Profar hit a clever bunt to load the bases with no outs. During Luis Campusano’s double play, Machado, the runner on third base, hit home to make it 2-1.
San Diego Darvish struck early, but blocked the Dodgers’ counterattack with ‘bullpen baseball.’ Tom Cosgrove, Enem de Los de Los Santos, Yuki Matsui, and Wandy Peralta pitched well into the top of the 7th inning, allowing no runs. However, a crack appeared in the top of the eighth inning when Peralta, who was on the mound, walked the first batter, Muncy. San Diego brought in Johnny Brito on an emergency basis, but Brito gave up a hit to Hernández and a walk to James Outman, putting the bases loaded with no outs. Then, a sacrifice fly to left field by Quique Enrique Hernández allowed the score to be tied 2-2.
Even bad luck followed in San Diego. The changed pitcher, Adrian Morejon, led Gavin Lux to a ground ball, but the batted ball went through the glove of first baseman Jake Cronenworth, who was trying to catch it, and into the outfield. The Dodgers took advantage of this opportunity and Kike, the runner on second base, came home and turned the tide.
The Dodgers’ batting line, which succeeded in a comeback, launched an onslaught. Betts and Ohtani hit timely hits one after another, widening the score to 5-2. And this score became the final score.
San Diego and the Dodgers will play Game 2 of the Seoul Series at the same venue at 7:05 p.m. on the 21st. San Diego uses Joe Musgrove as the starting pitcher, and the Dodgers use Yoshinobu Yamamoto as their starting pitcher. 스포츠토토
