Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani showed overpowering pitching ahead of the season opener, but the team ended up losing.
The Dodgers lost 0-3 in an exhibition game against the Los Angeles Angels at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, on the 25th (Korean time).
Ohtani started as the No. 1 batter and pitcher, going 1-for-2 at the plate and recording 4 innings, 4 hits, 2 walks, 11 strikeouts and 3 earned runs on the mound. He showed strong performances both hitting and pitching, completing preparations to spend his first full season as a two-way player with the Dodgers. Anthony Kelly (1 scoreless inning) and Justin Wrobleski (3 scoreless innings) followed in the bullpen and pitched well, but they could not prevent the team's loss.
The Dodgers set the starting lineup as Ohtani (pitcher), Kyle Tucker (right field), Mookie Betts (shortstop), Freddie Freeman (first base), Will Smith (catcher), Max Muncy (third base), Teoscar Hernández (left field), Andy Pages (center field) and Alex Verdugo (second base). The Dodgers' offense was held by the Angels' mound and managed only five hits.
The Angels started with Zach Neto (shortstop), Mike Trout (center field), Nolan Schanuel (first base), Jorge Soler (designated hitter), Yoan Moncada (third base), Jo Adell (right field), Josh Lowe (left field), Travis d'Arnaud (catcher) and Oswaldo Peraza (second base). They showed focused hitting from the lower part of the order and led the team to victory.
Starting pitcher Zack Kokrakowitz delivered 3 innings, 4 strikeouts and no runs in a strong outing. Nick Sandlin (1 scoreless inning), Ryan Johnson (4 scoreless innings) and Mitch Parris (1 scoreless inning) followed in the bullpen and preserved the team's win.
In the top of the second, leadoff hitter Soler hit a single and Moncada drew a walk to create a no-out, bases-loaded chance, but Adell, Lowe and d'Arnaud all struck out swinging and failed to capitalize.
In the bottom of the fourth, leadoff hitter Ohtani hit a single. However, Tucker popped out to shortstop, and Betts hit into a 6-4-3 double play, ending the inning in an instant.
In the top of the fifth, leadoff hitters Lowe and d'Arnaud hit consecutive singles to create a no-out, runners on first and second chance, and Peraza delivered an RBI single to put the Angels ahead. Ohtani gave up three consecutive hits and was taken out of the mound. After removing Ohtani, the Angels continued the threat when Yolmer Sánchez reached on a bunt single to create a no-out, bases-loaded chance, and Bryce Teodosio struck out swinging, but Trayce Mancini drew a bases-loaded walk that forced in a run. Ben Gamel struck out swinging, but J.T. Candelario again drew a bases-loaded walk that pushed in another run to make it 3-0. Gustavo Campero was retired on a grounder to second base.
In the bottom of the fifth with two outs, Muncy hit a double to put the Dodgers in scoring position. But Hernández struck out swinging and the opportunity was lost. In the sixth, leadoff hitter Pages reached on a walk and Verdugo hit a single, but Chase Hearn struck out swinging and Miguel Rojas hit into a 6-4-3 double play.
Continuing to fail to capitalize on scoring opportunities, the Dodgers saw Santiago Espinal hit a double with one out in the seventh to suddenly reach scoring position, and Alex Cobb hit a single to create a one-out, runners on first and third chance. But James Tibbs III struck out swinging and Zack Erhard hit a grounder to shortstop, and once again the opportunity went unused.
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