OSHU CITY, Japan — On Wednesday morning, around 60 devoted fans convened at the city hall in the hometown of Shohei Ohtani, located in northern Japan.
Dressed predominantly in blue and sporting Los Angeles Dodgers caps adorned with the interlocking “LA,” they came together to commemorate what they hoped would be a World Series victory for Ohtani, the Dodgers, and the small community.
However, their spirits were dampened when the Yankees triumphed over the Dodgers with a score of 11-4. Despite the loss, the community’s optimism remained unshaken.
Fans expressed their belief that Ohtani and the Dodgers — who grew up playing Little League and high school baseball in this area — would bounce back and secure the championship in Game 5. Currently, the Dodgers hold a 3-1 advantage in the best-of-seven series and are still regarded as strong contenders.
The atmosphere surged with excitement when fans wielded their thundersticks during the seventh inning while Ohtani was at bat and the Dodgers were trailing 6-4. These plastic noise-makers displayed an uplifting message on their sides, proclaiming “The Pride of Oshu City.”
Unfortunately, their hopes were dashed when Ohtani struck out, leading to a swift decline in noise and enthusiasm, which summed up the overall disappointment of the gathering.