Los Angeles Dodgers completed a two-match sweeping of Chicago Cubs in the Tokyo series Wednesday and won 6-3 in the Tokyo Dome with the game released on Fox Sports.
Dodgers, despite not having Freddie Freeman (ribs) and Mookie Betts (illness) in the starting lineup, jumped early at Cubs’ Starts Justin Steele.
In the second round, Max Muncy crushed a hanging crushing ball to a double to create dodgers with runners on the second and third base with one out. Dodgers Catcher Will Smith scored the first race of the game on a passed ball that advanced Muncy to the third. Kiké Hernandez then hit a sacrificial fly to the center field scoring Muncy, making it 2-0 dodgers.
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Los Angeles Dodgers’ Enrique Hernández celebrates after hitting a home drive in the fourth round during the baseball match between Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs in the MLB Tokyo series at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on March 19, 2025. (Yuichi Yamazaki/AFP via Getty Images)
After the second round of the two-race, Dodgers beat again in the third round when Tommy Edman hit a high fastball into the left field bleached to a solo home drive, the first home drive of the 2025 MLB season.
Dodgers’ violation gave Startkande Roki Sasaki a nice pillow when the 23-year-old debuted in Store League in the victory. Sasaki struck three laps and gave up a race on only one hit, but was erratic when he went five blows.
Was trade for Kyle Tucker enough to make the kids serious challengers?
Los Angeles Dodgers Start Pitcher Roki Sasaki wins up to deliver to Chicago Cubs in the first place of an MLB Tokyo series Baseball Game in Tokyo on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Cubs’ lonely races from Sasaki came to the bottom of the third round as the right Fielder Kyle Tucker went with the bases loaded and scored second Baseman Jon Berti.
After the kids cut the deficit to 3-1, Dodgers went back to work at the top of the fourth lap. Hernandez turned on an interior fastball and demolished a two-run home drive into the left field seats to make it 5-1. Hernandez had three RBI in the victory.
Steele ended up with the loss when he gave up five ran over four laps of work in his season debut.
Cubs responded with his own race at the bottom of the fourth lap after an Ian Happ RBI single did it 5-2.
Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani shines in victory over kids in the 1st match in the MLB season
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani, #17, celebrates his solo home with Tommy Edman, #25, in the fifth round of an MLB Tokyo series Baseball Camp against Chicago Cubs in Tokyo on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
After scoring two races in the Dodgers victory on Tuesday, Shohei Ohtani joined the action as he hit a home run by Nate Pearson. The home run was under review due to fan interference, but after a review stood the call and Dodgers took a 6-2 lead at the top of the fifth lap.
Cubs’ Shortstop Dansby Swanson doubled in a race at the bottom of the fifth lap to make it 6-3, and this is where the scoring would remain.
Cubs threatened in the ninth lap as they brought the binding ran up to the record before Dodgers closer Alex Vesia threw the door closed to keep the victory. Dodger’s Reliever Landon Knack was credited with the victory as he put two scoreless innings in the sixth and seventh laps that beat three kids hitters.
Los Angeles Dodgers Relief Pitcher Alex Vesia, #51, celebrates with Catcher Will Smith, #16, after defeating Chicago Cubs during the Tokyo series in Tokyo Dome on March 19, 2025. (DARREN YAMASHITA-PREPARED PICTURES)
With the Tokyo series Sweep, Dodgers started their World Series title defense with a 2-0 start.
They return to the US to play a few more spring training games before resuming the regular season of March 27 when playing Detroit Tigers.
Cubs, like Dodgers, will return home to play a few more spring training games before resuming their regular season against Arizona Diamondbacks on March 27, hoping to jump back from their 0-2 start.
