An NLDS game for Japan, operations for Joe Musgrove, Ha-Seong Kim – San Diego Union-Tribune

LOS ANGELES – It was about 9:09 a.m. in Tokyo when Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw out the first pitch of Game 5 of the NLDS at Dodger Stadium. A half-inning later, Yu Darvish struck out Shohei Ohtani and started the bottom of the first with Kyle Higashioka behind the plate. Padres reliever Yuki Matsui watched from the bullpen and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts – born in Okinawa to a U.S. Marine father and Japanese mother – had his view from the top step of the home bench.

“Actually, I just thought about it a few minutes ago,” said Higashioka, whose father was a third-generation Japanese American, as he came onto the field to warm up Friday. “There will be a lot of players of Japanese descent on the field, probably as many as I have ever seen in a major league game.

“It’s pretty cool.”

In the first MLB postseason matchup between Japanese-born starting pitchers, Yamamoto pitched five shutout innings, handing out two hits and a walk before Roberts began to drop into his bullpen. Darvish countered with 6⅔ innings of two-run ball, allowing Kike Hernandez to hit a solo home run in the second and Teoscar Hernandez in the seventh in his second good start in the NLDS.

“It’s great to be able to pitch with him, to be able to share the mound,” Darvish said through interpreter Shingo Horie. “It was such a big deal. He is not only a great pitcher but also a great person. I think it was a great game.”

Yamamoto added: “I think a lot of fans in Japan were looking forward to today's duel.”

Darvish's strong start included holding Ohtani hitless in three at-bats for the second time this series. Ohtani struck twice and faced his childhood hero on Friday.

“He doesn’t rely on a plan,” Ohtani said, “In that sense, as batsmen we have to be able to adapt, and that’s what makes him good and skilled.”

Matsui's only appearance in the series was striking out a batter in a scoreless inning in Game 4 at Petco Park. He had hoped to get into Friday's game but said he was excited to see what it meant for his country's standing in the sport.

“I think this means a lot to Japanese baseball,” Matsui said through interpreter Yusuke Horii. “There will probably be a lot of Japanese players coming in the future.”

Musgrove and Kim undergo surgery

The visitors' bench was occupied by two players Joe Musgrove And Ha Seong Kim Both went under the knife on Friday.

Musgrove's Tommy John surgery was performed by Dr. Keith Master in Dallas while Kim's labrum repair was being performed Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles.

Kim will become a free agent if both sides exercise an $8 million mutual option after this season.

Musgrove will enter the third year of his five-year, $100 million contract in 2025. He'll likely miss the entire season, although he's certainly done his homework on whether he might be ready for postseason contributions next fall.

With Friday's surgery, Musgrove believes there may be a window to contribute at the end of the season.

“Some men regenerate tissue faster than others,” Musgrove said Monday at Petco Park. “I will always leave room for the miracle of coming back in an insanely long time. But when I hear the stories, read them, do my homework and talk to our coaches who have rehabbed a lot of them, it's very important to give it the time it needs. …

“Then as we get into consistent throwing programs and get closer to mound work, I think hopefully we can gain some speed there and make up some ground.”

Staff writer Kevin Acee contributed to this report.

Originally published: October 11, 2024 at 7:03 p.m