The Ono NoNO
Eight days after Japan had its first no-hitter in 13 months, it had another, as Yudai Ono allowed a runner to reach on an error and a walk in a 3-0 win over the Hanshin Tigers on Saturday.
When Kodai Senga no-hit the Lotte Marines a week ago last Friday, it was the Hawks’ first no-hitter since before Donald Trump was born. The Dragons, on the other hand, have thrown six of NPB’s last 18 no-hitters.
Ono, the Dragons’ first draft pick in the 2010 draft, improved to 9-8 on the season. He has a 58-61 record.
Pacific League
Lions 4, Marines 3
At MetLife Dome, Seibu closer Tatsushi Masuda, who pitched with the maximum allowable lead in two of Seibu’s previous three games, couldn’t hold a two-run, ninth-inning lead against Lotte.
The Lions, however, won the game with one out in the 10th. With portly slugger Takeya Nakamura on first, Marines center fielder Hiromi Oka misplayed Ernesto Mejia’s one-out, medium-deep fly. When he fell trying to make the catch the ball rolled and rolled and Nakamura chugged home from first.
Here’s the post-game hero interview with winning pitcher Tsubasa Kokuba (1-0) and Mejia.
Game highlights are HERE.
Hawks 3, Fighters 1
At Sapporo Dome, Yurisbel Gracial singled in the tie-breaking run in the fifth, and Yuito Mori recorded his 32nd save by stranding two runners in the ninth, as SoftBank beat Nippon Ham to maintain a tiny winning-percentage-point lead over Seibu.
The loss eliminated the Fighters from pennant contention.
Game highlights are HERE.
Buffaloes 3, Eagles 2
At Kyocera Dome, Yuma Mune drove in all three Orix runs, while starter Taisuke Yamaoka (11-4) lost his shutout bid in a two-run Rakuten eighth inning. Brandon Dickson stranded two runners in the ninth to earn his 19th save.
Game highlights are HERE.
Central League
Carp 6, Giants 5, 10 innings
At Tokyo Dome, Yomiuri manager Tatsunori Hara was unhappy after his team wasted a one-out, bases-loaded chance to break a 5-5 tie in the ninth inning in a 10-inning loss to Hiroshima. The Carp then scored the winning run in the 10th on a passed ball by catcher Takumi Oshiro.
“You could see who was clutch and who wasn’t,” said Hara after Alex Guerrero and Oshiro popped up one after the other to end the ninth.
Game highlights are HERE.
Dragons 3, Tigers 0
At Nagoya Dome, Dayan Viciedo reached base four times, and he and Nobumasa Fukuda each scored one run and drove in another to back Yudai Ono’s no-hitter.
BayStars 7, Swallows 4
At Yokohama Stadium, DeNA hammered lefty Masanori Ishikawa (7-6) for five runs over five innings in a win over Yakult, in which Swallows second baseman Tetsuto Yamada was caught stealing for the first time since Aug. 22, 2018, ending his record streak of 38 successful stolen base attempts.
