Baseball was such an operative word in Beijing this weekend. Major League Baseball fired up this strategically significant city with an exhibition series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres.

Our correspondent Ouyang brings you the details.

Reporter:

Major League Baseball knows too well that the best way to hook up a still larger fan base onto their sport---is to hand them a real match on a plate. To top it all, MLB even opened its Regular Season in Japan three times in its history. Compared to that, a first-ever double showcase match is just promising something bigger in the near future.

Allen Selig, commissioner and the number one figure of the MLB, talks about the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres that he sent as two missionaries to China on this trip.

"These two teams really want to come. This is out of the way during Spring Traing. It is the first time in history. I am proud."

But what he didn't mention is that Los Angeles Dodgers helped build the first practice field in Beijing and funded construction of a base stadium, named Dodger Stadium, in Tianjin. Likewise, the San Diego Padres has always been active in involving itself in global expansion drives of the MLB.

Star coach of the Los Angeles Dodgers Joe Torre interestingly predicts the winner of the exhibition series like this.

"Hopefully, the people of China. They get a chance to see close-up Major League Baseball."

The Saturday match ended in a tie of three all. In the match on Sunday, the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the San Diego Padres three to zero. Generally speaking, Due to the forthcoming Opening Day on March 24th of the MLB, the two teams played two matches cautiously as expected.

Adrian Gonzales, Padres' first baseman expresses his satisfaction with the Wukesong Olympic stadium despite their defeat.

"I felt like the field was in great condition. There is no hubs and bad bumps."

But for the Chinese spectators, watching a baseball match by two world-class teams is nothing short of a treat.

I like baseball very much. I played baseball when I was a boy. In this match, Padres and Dodgers seem equally strong to me.

"I don't know much about the rules of the game. But it is exciting to watch a baseball match in person. It was my first time."

"This match is interesting. Their offensives are excellent. I am the second baseman on the field."

When this ten year old Chinese boy viewer names Ichiro Sukuki from the Seattle Mariners as his idol, the MLB knows that young generations of this country have revealed the real opportunity for them.

Ouyang, CRI news.