Team Japan won the World Baseball Classic this year primarily on the backs of Shohei Ohtani and Masataka Yoshida. Ohtani was a known commodity, one of the most unique and talented players in history. Yoshida was coming in to his first Major League season after the Red Sox signed him in the offseason. So, the matchup on Patriots Day was hyped up as the first meeting between the two Team Japan stars stateside. Unfortunately, it did not really live up to expectations.
It was a cold and rainy day. Ohtani was dealing for the first couple of innings, but only pitched two due to a lengthy rain delay. Yoshida came to bat against him in the first. He was in the midst of his slump though and struck out swinging. He was hitless in five plate appearances, walking once. Ohtani had two hits in five at-bats, scoring a run and getting caught stealing by Reese McGuire. He pitched two innings, giving up a run, walking one and striking out three.
Boston lost the game 5-4. Kutter Crawford did a nice job keeping the game close, coming on in relief of Brayan Bello, who was making his season debut. Rafael Devers had two hits with a double for the offense.
The best part of this game was definitely the drunk Red Sox fans who got more drunk as the rain delay dragged on and started chanting and singing (iirc I think the Bruins game was on too).
ReplyDeleteAlso just the mob of people who were waiting to see Ohtani in Boston and the rise of Red Sox beat writers/fans entertaining the idea of him potentially joining in free agency lol. I knew that the Ohtani free agency discourse that's going to dominate the entire summer, fall and winter started right then and there.
There is definitely a contingent of Red Sox fans that believe Ohtani is coming to Boston. I am not sure how seriously they believe that, but I do see it mentioned on Twitter. Personally, I place the odds at less than 5%. I just do not see it happening. It would be great though.
Delete