ABSTRACT:

Cubs 5 Mets 3

TOKYO – This is not the type of history 27-year-old Mike Hampton wanted to make here. He didn’t ride in a plane for 13-hours to lose his ability to throw strikes.

But that is what happened.

In the first major-league regular season game ever played outside of North America, the Cubs beat the Mets, 5-3, this morning (if you’re still in the U.S.) at the sold-out Tokyo Dome…….

Before the game, a band played behind third base and there was a festive dance routine that featured such songs as the theme to “Happy Days.” To make everyone feel a little more at home, Mr. Met boogied to the beat and Hank Aaron threw out the first pitch.