CHICAGO - Seiya Suzuki crushed a two-run shot in the bottom of the first inning to help the Chicago Cubs to a 10-5 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers and Samurai Japan teammate Shohei Ohtani in Monday's series opener at Wrigley Field.
Ohtani led off the game with a single to left field and Andy Pages also reached before Tommy Edman gave Los Angeles a 3-0 lead with his long shot over left.
Suzuki made it a one-run game in the home half with his 19th long bomb of the season, narrowly clearing the fence with a low-trajectory line drive to left-center field off left-hander Justin Wrobleski (11-3).
"I never expected it to be a home run, but I knew I'd made solid contact," Suzuki said. "I got really lucky -- it actually went into the netting -- but I'm just glad it worked out."
Suzuki also delivered on defense, making a strong throw from right field to nab Kyle Tucker on the run to second in the top of the sixth inning.
"It happened so fast that I don't really remember much about it, but I'm glad I was able to make the play," said Suzuki, who finished 1-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
Ohtani went 2-for-4, also hitting a single to right in the second.
Japanese left-hander Shota Imanaga is scheduled to take the mound for the Cubs in the finale of the three-game series on Wednesday.
In other Major League Baseball action, Tatsuya Imai struck out five over three perfect relief innings for the Houston Astros in his first appearance since being shifted to the bullpen.
The Astros lost 3-1 to the Toronto Blue Jays, with Kazuma Okamoto going 2-for-4 for the visitors at Daikin Park.
