- Five-run, batter-around 4th inning sparked by Shohei's walk
- Seiya Suzuki goes 3-for-4 with a HR in a Japanese-player showdown
- Shohei reaches base 3 times (1 hit + 2 walks) to ignite the lineup
Man oh man, we won! 12-4 baby, 12-4!
Let's start with Shohei. First pitch of the bottom of the 1st, he laces one to center for a base hit. Exit velo was only 81mph so technically it was a flare, but when Shohei reaches base to start the game like that, it just hits different, ya know? Leadoff man getting on — THAT'S Dodgers baseball, right there.
That Bottom of the 4th Was Absolutely Nuts
Shohei's walks in the 3rd and 4th were HUGE. Especially that 4th-inning at-bat — tied game, runners on 2nd and 3rd, one out, and they straight-up pitched around him. Four straight balls. Cutter, splitter, not a single one in the zone. The Cubs battery has clearly given up trying to get him out at this point, lol.
Then after Shohei walks to load the bases, Freeland rips a clutch double, Freddie goes deep, Teoscar drives in two, Rushing keeps it going, and Andy Pages caps it off with another RBI! FIVE RUNS in the 4th alone! WOOOOO the lineup was unstoppable! This is what happens when Shohei keeps loading the bases for these guys, I'm telling ya.
In the 5th and 6th he got fooled by changeups and a fat fastball and went down quietly, but whatever — we already had the lead. Three times on base is plenty of work for one game.
Roki, Rough Outing but He Battled
Roki was honestly all over the place today... faced 23 batters, 7 hits, 3 home runs, 1 walk allowed. Three bombs is rough. His 99mph top speed is legit, but he averaged just 92mph today — the velo wasn't quite there. Seiya Suzuki took him deep in the 2nd for the lead, then Moises Ballesteros got him in the 4th, and Amaya in the 5th. At least all three were solo shots — small mercies.
But hey, the offense bailed him out completely. Get 'em next time, Roki! You've got SO much more in the tank, kid!
And Seiya Suzuki Going 3-for-4 with a HR...
Seriously though, Seiya going 3-for-4 with a homer? Dude's a monster. That bomb in the 2nd was absolutely crushed. As a Dodgers fan it stings, but as a Japanese fan you can't help but go "damn, Seiya..." If he's hitting like this for the Cubs, he's locked in for the season for sure.
Bottom Line
12-4 dub, and getting it done at home is HUGE! Shohei reached 3 times, Seiya had 3 hits, Roki struggled but the offense erupted — every Japanese player was front and center in this one. Keep it rolling, Dodgers!
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