TOKYO – The Tokyo Dome video board lit up Sunday night with the words “ CUBS WIN,” flashing between English and Japanese. Clark, the team mascot, waved a “W” flag in center field. And “Go Cubs Go” played over the loudspeakers, celebrating the team’s first exhibition game win.

Last year, the Padres and Dodgers got the MLB regular season started early with two games in South Korea. This year, it’s the Cubs and Dodgers kicking things off the week before league-wide Opening Day.