TOKYO (AP) — Shohei Ohtani hit a pair of three-run homers in a prep sport for the World Baseball Basic, serving to Japan win 8-1 on the Central League’s Hanshin Tigers in an exhibition on Monday night time.
The Los Angeles Angels two-way star went right down to his left knee within the third inning when he homered to middle off right-hander Hiroto Saiki. Ohtani homered to middle once more within the fifth aganst left-hander Ren Tomida.
Ohtani struck out in his first at-bat and instructed he may need had jet lag after touring from spring coaching in the US.
Ohtani was taking part in his first sport for Japan since an exhibition towards the Netherlands on Nov. 13, 2016.
The WBC begins Wednesday with two video games in Taiwan: Cuba vs. Netherlands, and Panama vs. Taiwan. Japan opens Thursday towards China on the Tokyo Dome. Ohtani is predicted to be Japan’s designated hitter.
Japan gained the primary two editions of the event in 2006 and 2009. The U.S. is defending champion after successful in 2017. The Dominican Republic is taken into account a favourite.
___
Extra AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
