"Cubs 1 - Dodgers 4" (18th, Tokyo Dome)

Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga was the opening pitcher and pitched four innings without giving up a hit or a run. Since it was the opening game, he was relieved of his duties after pitching 69 pitches.

Imanaga said with relief, "Usually I go up to the mound while calculating the number of runs I give up, but today I was focused on not giving up any runs. I was thinking of not giving up any runs while using a lot of pitches." Looking back on his match against the Japanese pitcher Yamamoto, he said, "Because I was up against pitcher Yamamoto, if I give up one run, he'd get on a roll. If I give up a run, I'd give the other team the momentum. That inning was just a coincidence, but I'm glad I didn't give up any runs."

In the first inning, he struck out all three batters, including Ohtani, who was the first batter, on a grounder to second base. In the second inning, he walked the first batter in succession, putting him in a pinch, but he struck out the next batters and got through the inning without giving up any runs.

In the third inning, right after the team took a one-run lead, with one out, Ohtani's second at-bat was also lined out to second base. Although he was successful in shutting down Ohtani, he said, "It was a sharp swing. I think it's tough for me to have a batter like him as the leadoff hitter."

Imanaga did his job, but after Ohtani's hit put runners on first and third with one out, Brown allowed an RBI single by Edman to tie the game. Then, with a mistake by his teammates, the score was overtaken.

The match ended in a loss. Imanaga looked ahead and said, "First of all, I had two missions. To play a good game, and for the team to win. We couldn't win the other match, so I want to challenge myself when I get back to America."