Dodgers beat Braves 5-3 in MLB playoff opener; Murakami homers in White Sox win
In short
The Dodgers beat the Braves 5-3 at home in Game 1 of the National League Division Series, with Ohtani Shohei going 4-for-1 and singling in his first postseason at-bat, Japanese outlets reported. In the American League, Murakami Munetaka’s two-run homer in the fourth inning helped the White Sox to a 3-0 win over the Guardians in Cleveland. The Dodgers are chasing a third straight World Series title.
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The Dodgers beat the Braves 5-3 at home in Game 1 of Major League Baseball’s National League Division Series as the postseason opened, according to Japanese outlets. Ohtani Shohei started as the second batter and designated hitter and went 4-for-1, singling to right in the first inning in his first postseason at-bat, Yomiuri Shimbun, TBS NEWS DIG, Asahi Shimbun and NHK reported. The Dodgers hit three home runs, Nikkei and Nippon TV News said; Asahi reported that T. Hernandez’s two-run homer in the fourth inning opened the scoring. Nippon TV said the Braves closed in the ninth inning before the Dodgers held on. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
Asahi reported Ohtani lined out to second in the third inning, flied out to left in the fifth and flied out to center in the seventh. It said he began the season pitching and hitting but has not pitched since July and gave up a return as a pitcher this season, and that he went on the 15-day injured list in early September with inflammation in his right upper arm before returning on Sept. 23. He appeared in five games without a home run after his 30th of the season on Aug. 18, Asahi said. At a press conference the day before the game, Ohtani said he felt a sense of anticipation and excitement. [ 6 ]
In the American League, Murakami Munetaka’s White Sox beat the Guardians 3-0 in Cleveland, Nikkei and Asahi reported. Batting fourth and playing first base, Murakami hit a two-run homer over right in the fourth inning, his first postseason home run and the game’s first runs, the two outlets said; Nikkei reported he finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs. NHK reported the White Sox’s win and Murakami’s opening home run in its headline. Asahi said the Rays beat the Yankees 1-0 in the other American League game. [ 3 , 6 , 7 ]
Yomiuri and Asahi reported the Dodgers are trying to become the third team in history to win three straight World Series titles. Asahi said the Dodgers won the National League West for a fifth straight year, went 1-5 against the Braves in the regular season, and are meeting them in the division series for the fourth time, having won 3-1 in 2018. It said Yamamoto Yoshinobu is scheduled to start Game 3 on Oct. 6 on the road and that Sasaki Roki is waiting in the bullpen as a reliever. Nikkei and Asahi said the other National League game pits the Brewers against Matsui Yuki’s Padres, and Nikkei and TBS said three wins are needed to reach each league’s championship series. The outlets differed on the Braves’ standing: Asahi described them as the East division’s first-place team, while TBS said they had won the wild card. [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]
Why it matters
The results matter most to Japanese readers because Ohtani, Murakami, Yamamoto, Sasaki and Matsui are all involved in this postseason, and outlets led with how each of them fared. The Dodgers’ win keeps alive their attempt at a third consecutive World Series title, which the documents describe as a feat only two teams have achieved. Beyond that, the coverage gives no basis for wider significance than the opening day of the playoffs.
Key facts
- The Dodgers beat the Braves 5-3 in Game 1 of the National League Division Series. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- Ohtani Shohei started as the second batter and designated hitter and went 4-for-1, singling to right in his first postseason at-bat. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- The Dodgers hit three home runs; Asahi reported T. Hernandez’s two-run homer in the fourth inning opened the scoring. [ 3 , 6 , 8 ]
- Murakami Munetaka hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning, his first postseason home run, and the White Sox beat the Guardians 3-0 in Cleveland. [ 3 , 6 , 7 ]
- The Rays beat the Yankees 1-0 in the other American League game. [ 3 , 6 ]
- Three wins are needed to advance to each league’s championship series. [ 3 , 5 ]
- The Dodgers are aiming for a third straight World Series title. [ 4 , 6 ]
- Yamamoto Yoshinobu is scheduled to start Game 3 on Oct. 6 on the road, Asahi reported. [ 6 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Dodgers beat the Braves 5-3 in Game 1 of the National League Division Series. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- Ohtani Shohei started as the second batter and designated hitter and went 4-for-1, with a single in his first postseason at-bat. [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- The White Sox beat the Guardians 3-0, with Murakami Munetaka hitting a two-run home run in the fourth inning, his first postseason home run. [ 3 , 6 , 7 ]
- The Dodgers hit three home runs in the game. [ 3 , 6 , 8 ]
- Teams that win three games in the division series advance to the league championship series. [ 3 , 5 ]
- The Dodgers are trying to win a third straight World Series title. [ 4 , 6 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the Braves entered the series as a division winner or as a wild-card team. Asahi Shimbun described the Braves as the East division’s first-place team, while TBS NEWS DIG said they had won the wild card; the documents do not reconcile the two.
- The result of the National League game between the Brewers and Matsui Yuki’s Padres. Nikkei and Asahi reported the matchup but gave no score or outcome.
- Which Dodgers pitcher Nippon TV News said pitched well in intense heat. Only Nippon TV mentioned it, and the outlet’s headline gives the name only in Japanese katakana without spelling it out.
- Murakami’s full batting line beyond the home run. Nikkei reported two hits and two RBIs in four at-bats, while other outlets mention only the home run, so the fuller line rests on a single outlet.
- How Ohtani’s other three at-bats ended. Only Asahi listed the out-by-out results.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Yomiuri Shimbun posts a score flash for Game 1 of the Dodgers-Braves division series. [ 1 ]
- Yomiuri reports the Dodgers won and that Ohtani hit in his first at-bat. [ 2 ]
- Nikkei reports the division series opened, with Murakami’s first postseason home run and Ohtani’s one hit. [ 3 ]
- Yomiuri reports the Dodgers opened the postseason with a win, aiming for a third straight World Series. [ 4 ]
- TBS NEWS DIG reports Ohtani’s hit in his first postseason at-bat. [ 5 ]
- Asahi reports full details, including Ohtani’s four at-bats and Yamamoto’s Game 3 start. [ 6 ]
- NHK reports the Dodgers’ 5-3 win and Ohtani’s one hit. [ 7 ]
- Nippon TV News reports the Dodgers held on in the ninth and hit three home runs. [ 8 ]