Shohei Ohtani met the expectations of a packed crowd with a two-run blast as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Yomiuri Giants 5-1 in an exhibition game Saturday.
The two-way superstar, playing in his native Japan for the first time since the 2023 World Baseball Classic, homered into the right-field seats to push the Dodgers' lead to 4-0 in a five-run third inning at Tokyo Dome.
"I hit it a little toward the end of the bat, but got a good angle on it, so I was confident it would go out," Ohtani said. "That big crowd has made me feel like I'm home for the first time in a while. It was a good game, and it was a good at-bat."
The game's attendance reached 42,064.
Michael Conforto and Teoscar Hernandez each hit a solo home run in the same inning.
Ohtani led off the game with a walk and grounded out in his other plate appearance before being replaced by a pinch-hitter in the eighth.
Justin Wrobleski started for the Dodgers and retired all six batters he faced before seven relievers took care of the rest.
Yomiuri ace Shosei Togo gave up five runs in six innings.
Giants manager Shinnosuke Abe, commenting on Ohtani, said, "I was like 'As expected, he hits it'...I know everyone will get mad at me, but I got a commemorative photo with him."
The Dodgers will play another exhibition game Sunday in Tokyo, against the Hanshin Tigers.
The Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs will play the first two games of Major League Baseball's season at the same stadium Tuesday and Wednesday.
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