Category Archives: News

NPB news: March 30, 2024

Orix’s imports put on a show Saturday, and someone will have to tell preseason batting champ, Ryuki Watarai that pitchers are now actually trying to get him out in the regular season, because the rookie remains unstoppable at the top of the BayStars’ batting order.

Saturday’s games

Buffaloes 2, Hawks 0: At Osaka UFO Dome, Venezuelan newcomer Anderson Espinoza walked four but struck out three, and got Hotaka Yamakawa to hit into a pair of double plays over six scoreless innings.

Espinoza left with a 2-0 lead after compatriot Leo Cedeno blasted his first homer of the season, fulfilling a pre-game promise to his compatriot.

“Espinoza appeared to be nervous, understandably so, in his first Japan start, which made me a little nervous, too. But he got better as he went along,” manager Satoshi Nakajima said.

Continue reading NPB news: March 30, 2024

NPB news: March 29, 2024

Japan swung into action with its major league openers Friday, with the Chunichi Dragons drawing first blood. Having finished last in scoring the past three seasons, the Dragons got a first-inning run off Cy Sneed at Jingu Stadium to set off the season’s first run-scoring celebration.

Friday’s games

Giants 4, Tigers 0: At Tokyo Ugly Dome, the Giants’ 35-year-old Takayuki Kajitani robbed Shota Morishita of an ice-breaking third-inning double with a diving catch and started an inning-ending double play before belting a two-run homer in the fifth that made it 3-0. Shosei Togo pitched six innings to win his first career Opening Day and give new skipper Shinnosuke Abe a perfect record.

Giants closer Taisei Ota, who was hurt in the first week of spring training and pitched in just two exhibitions, struck out three of the four batters he faced in the ninth.

BayStars 4, Carp 3: At Yokohama Stadium, DeNA eclipsed its franchise single-game attendance figure with an Opening Day crowd of 33,312, eight more than the previous mark set Aug. 10, and they got a show from rookie Ryuki Watarai. He became the franchise’s first player to open his pro career with a major league homer on Opening Day with a game-tying three-run shot in his second at-bat.

Continue reading NPB news: March 29, 2024