Dodgers, Padres tie 3-3 in first China game

　　BEIJING, March 15 - The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres shared the honours when Major League Baseball made its debut in China with a 3-3 tied game on Saturday.

　　As no extra innings are played in exhibition games, the 12,224 fans at the Wukesong Baseball field in the Chinese capital were denied a winner on a sunny but blustery day at the venue for August's Olympic tournament.

　　George Lombard put the Dodgers ahead when he scored the first major league home run in China at the top of the third inning, powering the ball over the rightfield fence.

　　The Padres struck back when a wild throw from catcher Lucas May allowed second baseman Oscar Robles to sneak home from third in the bottom of the fourth.

　　The Dodgers went back in front two innings later when May atoned for his error with a single and new $36.2 million outfielder Andruw Jones put them further ahead when he powered Matt Kemp home in the eighth.

　　But infielder Adrian Gonzales drove Craig Stansberry and Scott Hairston in with a double at the bottom of the eighth to tie the game up at 3-3.

　　Major League Baseball has ambitious plan to make its sport as popular with the Chinese as it is with their neighbours in Japan and South Korea.

　　The Dodgers and Padres play another exhibition at the same stadium on Sunday.