The Chicago Cubs’ first game in Japan didn’t go as planned. Their bats never woke up, their timing looked off, and a 20-year-old left-handed pitcher named Keito Mombetsu completely stole the show. The Hanshin Tigers blanked the Cubs 3-0 at the Tokyo Dome in a preseason exhibition, and after the game, Cubs manager Craig Counsell didn’t sugarcoat it.

“He threw a lot of strikes,” Counsell said in a recent interview on Dodgers Blue. “He made us put the ball in play, and, you know, our timing offensively wasn’t great today. But he pitched well. Most importantly, he threw a lot of strikes.”  

Mombetsu did more than just throw strikes—he dominated. The young southpaw faced 15 batters and retired all 15, putting together a perfect five-inning outing that had the Cubs completely out of sync. He only struck out two, but that was part of the problem for Chicago—he forced contact, and nothing they hit was particularly dangerous.

Even after Mombetsu exited, things didn’t improve much. The Cubs only managed three hits, with Miguel Amaya finally breaking up the perfect game in the sixth inning. Seiya Suzuki, the lone Japanese player on the Cubs roster, also singled in the seventh, but that was about it.

Meanwhile, Hanshin steadily built its lead. A third-inning RBI double from Koji Chikamoto off Caleb Thielbar got the scoring started. In the fourth, Ukyo Maegawa doubled home Shota Morishita after Morishita had singled and stolen second. Then, in the fifth, Teruaki Sato added an RBI single. The Tigers, managed by former Cubs reliever Kyuji Fujikawa, looked sharp, playing with the kind of midseason form that Chicago lacked.

Of course, the Cubs had some built-in excuses. They had just arrived in Japan and were adjusting to the time difference. They were also facing unfamiliar pitchers in an exhibition setting, and they likely weren’t fully locked in yet. But Counsell wasn’t interested in making excuses. He said that they needed to make some corrections in their timing and showed optimism about getting adjusted.

Looking ahead: Cubs’ time to adjust before Dodgers Series

The Cubs have little time to regroup before their season opener against the Dodgers, and fixing their offensive struggles will be a top priority. Facing an elite pitching staff, which includes pitchers with more experience and better scouting reports. They need to sharpen their timing and refine their approach at the plate. Craig Counsell stressed the urgency of adjustments, noting that the team will use the next few days to fine-tune their techniques and better prepare for tough competition.

Seiya Suzuki coming back, to Japan was a development for the team; however, the Cubs require more than just standout performances from individuals in order to triumph on the field. The batters must focus on prolonging their at-bats by not swinging at pitches outside the strike zone and capitalizing on opportunities to make contact, with the ball. In short, with the Dodgers looming, the Cubs can’t afford another flat offensive showing.

The Cubs’ lackluster performance against Hanshin was a wake-up call, but there’s still time to adjust before Opening Day. Craig Counsell expects his team to respond on the field and show they’re ready for the challenge.