OSHU CITY, Japan (AP) — A small group of about 60 fans gathered Wednesday morning for a watch party at the city hall in Shohei Ohtani's hometown in northern Japan.
They came dressed mostly in blue, the interlocking LA on their caps, to celebrate a World Series title for Ohtani, the Dodgers and this rural community.
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People react as they watch a live view of Game 4 of the baseball World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees during a public viewing event in Oshu, northeastern Japan, the hometown of Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
People react as they watch a live view of Game 4 of the baseball World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees during a public viewing event in Oshu, northeastern Japan, the hometown of Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
A man brings up a poster of Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers as he and others watch a live view of Game 4 of the baseball World Series between the Dodgers and the New York Yankees during a public viewing event in Oshu, northeastern Japan, the hometown of Ohtani, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
People react as they watch a live view of Game 4 of the baseball World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees during a public viewing event in Oshu, northeastern Japan, the hometown of Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
People react as they watch a live view of Game 4 of the baseball World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees during a public viewing event in Oshu, northeastern Japan, the hometown of Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
They left disappointed.
The Yankees defeated the Dodgers 11-4, but there was no loss of confidence in Oshu City, located about 300 miles (500 kilometers) north of Tokyo.
“I would have been happy for the Dodgers to win all four games, but I didn't mind losing one,” fan Yoshiyuki Kosaka said. "The Dodgers still have the advantage and I want them to win the World Series title tomorrow.”
Fans predicted their local superstar and the Dodgers — he played Little League and high school baseball here — would rally and clinch the series in Game 5. The Dodgers lead 3-1 and are still strong favorites in the best-of-seven series.
“The Dodgers were in a good mood yesterday and I hoped they would keep the momentum going and win today," said another fan, Yoko Chiba. "But it ended not with the result I was hoping for.”
The fans made racket with their thunder sticks for a minute in the seventh with Ohtani batting and the Dodgers trailing 6-4. The plastic noisemakers even carried an encouraging message on the side: “The Pride of Oshu City.”
It didn't help. Ohtani struck out and the noise stopped, typifying the morning.
Oshu Mayor Jun Kuranari offered confidence in Ohtani.
“Together with our local people, I hope that Ohtani, who is from here, will hit a smashing home run tomorrow," he said.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
People react as they watch a live view of Game 4 of the baseball World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees during a public viewing event in Oshu, northeastern Japan, the hometown of Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
People react as they watch a live view of Game 4 of the baseball World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees during a public viewing event in Oshu, northeastern Japan, the hometown of Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
A man brings up a poster of Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers as he and others watch a live view of Game 4 of the baseball World Series between the Dodgers and the New York Yankees during a public viewing event in Oshu, northeastern Japan, the hometown of Ohtani, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
People react as they watch a live view of Game 4 of the baseball World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees during a public viewing event in Oshu, northeastern Japan, the hometown of Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
People react as they watch a live view of Game 4 of the baseball World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees during a public viewing event in Oshu, northeastern Japan, the hometown of Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Buddy Hield scored a season-best 28 points, Brandin Podziemski had 19 points and fueled a furious second-half comeback, and the Golden State Warriors rallied from 17 down to beat the New Orleans Pelicans 124-106 on Tuesday night.
Zion Williamson had a season-high 31 points on 12-for-20 shooting and eight rebounds for New Orleans. Brandon Ingram scored 30 points.
Jonathan Kuminga, who started the initial three games for Golden State but was averaging 8.0 points on 33.3% shooting, came off the bench to score 17. Reserve Lindy Waters III had 21 points and nine rebounds in his best game yet for Golden State.
The short-handed Warriors needed everything from everybody with starters Stephen Curry and Andrew Wiggins sidelined.
Curry missed the game with a sprained left ankle he injured in the second half of Sunday's 112-104 loss to the Clippers. He is set to be re-evaluated Friday.
Wiggins and De’Anthony Melton each sat out with lower back strains. Coach Steve Kerr called Wiggins questionable for the second straight matchup against New Orleans on Wednesday night at Chase Center.
Pelicans: New Orleans held a 44-34 rebounding edge after dominating the boards in the initial quarter.
Warriors: The Warriors limited their turnovers to eight after committing 21 on Sunday and forced New Orleans into 24 for 34 points — making 15 steals. Golden State overcame shooting 5 for 23 in the opening quarter — 2 of 13 from 3-point range — to fall behind 31-14.
Podziemski's 3-pointer with 8:22 left in the third tied the game. He scored again the next time down, sparking the Warriors to a 71-67 lead they never relinquished. He also blocked two shots.
Hield returned to the starting lineup and overcame a slow start to make seven 3-pointers after a disappointing home debut Sunday in which he missed 8 of 9 3s and scored eight points.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
New Orleans Pelicans head coach Willie Green yells to his team against the Golden State Warriors during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr gestures to his team during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans in San Francisco, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II (0) steals the ball from New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
Golden State Warriors guard Gary Payton II (0) shoots over New Orleans Pelicans forward Herbert Jones (2) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) is congratulated by CJ McCollum (3) after scoring against the Golden State Warriors during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
New Orleans Pelicans guard Jordan Hawkins (24) is defend by Golden State Warriors forward Kevon Looney, back, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski (2) shoots against New Orleans Pelicans center Daniel Theis (10) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski (2) shoots against New Orleans Pelicans guard Jordan Hawkins (24) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski, right, shoots against New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski (2) celebrates against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)