Before the first two contests of the 162-game gauntlet get underway, both teams are playing exhibition games in the Tokyo Dome. The Cubs faced the Hanshin Tigers in the late hours

With the team going with a bullpen day for their first exhibition game in Japan, Merryweather opened for the Cubs against the NPB’s Hanshin Tigers. And after a relatively subdued first half inning, the chants began soon after Merryweather took the mound for warmup pitches.

Catch the Chicago Cubs and the Hanshin Tigers in the Tokyo Series on Marquee Sports Network this Friday. The Cubs have made the trip to Japan and will play in this exhibition game before starting the regular season against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday.

A cacophony of chants, horns, drums and cheers greeted Julian Merryweather as he faced the Hanshin Tigers, while the Chicago Cubs hitters experienced a very different atmosphere in the 3-0

The Chicago Cubs began their first of two exhibition games in Japan by losing 3-0 to the Hanshin Tigers. Offensively, the Cubs were held without a hit until the sixth inning and finished with just three in the contest.

The Cubs offense was mostly silent in this exhibition game. But there were lots of other things to see and do in Tokyo.