Shohei ohtani stepped into the batsman’s box with the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday.
As the ‘ leadoff hitter, Otani is loved by Japanese fans, but the game had a different energy. After a 4-1 victory for the , he admitted to feeling something unusual – neurological.
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“I was actually quite nervous,” Otani told MLB Network’s Harold Reynolds via his interpreter Will Eileton. “It’s been a while since I was nervous, but I definitely felt that today.”
He added: “It’s a very unique environment and a unique situation where fans feel they’re hoping to get some hits for me.”
Otani’s compatriot Cubs starter Shota Imanaga led the groundout and lineout to 2 base in his first two at-bats. However, when Otani ripped a 107 mph single to the right field, the crowd erupted in the fifth and hooked the line on the right field into a double, they roamed again in the ninth.
“There was so much hope to see what he did,” manager Dave Roberts said earlier this week. “This was different from one of the other players.”
Otani finished 2-2 with two runs in the first place.
On the mound, Yamamoto Yoshinobu gave a strong performance, allowing one run with three hits in five innings while retiring the last nine batters he faced. Imanaga was equally impressive, pitching four innings, but he walked four times.
The and Cubs meet again Wednesday, with another Japanese star about to bask in the spotlight.
Sasaki Roki made her MLB debut in her home country, and Justin Steele is off to Chicago.
The again without Mookie Betts and he returned home early as he recovered from the illness. The status of the first base hand Freddie Freeman is uncertain after being injured with rib pain before the first pitch.
More news: Freddie Freeman gives an update on injuries and reveals a timeline back to the
Photo credit: Darren Yamashita-Immagn Image
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