Shohei Ohtani’s hometown waits another day for the superstar’s first World Series title

OSHU CITY, Japan (AP) — A small group of about 60 fans gathered Wednesday morning for a viewing party at City Hall in The birthplace of Shohei Ohtani in Northern Japan.

They came dressed mostly in blue, with the interlocking LA on their caps, to celebrate a World Series title for Ohtani, the Dodgers and this rural community.

They left disappointed.

The Yankees defeated the Dodgers 11-4, but there was no loss of confidence in Oshu City, located about 300 miles north of Tokyo.

Fans predicted that their local superstar and the Dodgers – he played Little League and high school baseball here – would rally and take the series in Game 5. The Dodgers lead 3-1 and are still strong favorites in the best-of- seven series.

The fans made noise with their thunder sticks for a minute in the seventh while Ohtani was batting and the Dodgers trailed 6-4. The plastic noisemakers even carried an encouraging message: “The pride of Oshu City.”

It didn’t help. Ohtani struck and the noise stopped, typifying the morning.

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