Central League
Dragons 3, BayStars 2
At Yokohama Stadium, Enny Romero (3-3) scattered two walks and three hits over seven innings to get the win. Joely Rodriguez worked a scoreless eighth, but Chunichi closer Hiroshi Suzuki survived an anxious ninth to record his 12th save.
The loss was last-place DeNA’s eighth in their last 10 games, although the team got seven innings from rookie right-hander Shinichi Onuki (2-2). It was the fourth tough loss for a BayStars starter this season (game score greater than 50), tying the Yakult Swallows and Hanshin Tigers for most in NPB.
Pacific League
Hawks 5, Lions 1
At Yafuoku Dome, submarine rookie Rei Takahashi (5-0) outdueled lefty Daiki Enokida (1-1) over eight innings behind three RBIs from Cuba’s Yurisbel Gracial. Takahashi struck out three, raising his season total to 18 from 38 innings.
Takahashi entered the game with 4.8 strikeouts per nine innings pitched, the fourth lowest among pitchers with 30-plus innings, but he’s the only one under 5.0 with more than two wins.
NPB’s lowest (through May 15) are:
- Makoto Aduwa, Carp 4.35
- Minoru Iwata, Tigers 4.60
- Ayumu Ishikawa, Marines 4.67
- Rei Takahashi, Hawks 4.80
- Shinsaburo Tawata, Lions 4.89
Fighters 2, Eagles 0
At Tokyo Dome, Takayuki Kato allowed a hit and two walks over five innings and four relievers held host Rakuten to a walk and a hit the rest of the way. The Eagles wasted seven good innings from lefty Wataru Karashima (3-1).
Marines 9, Buffaloes 2
At Zozo Marine Stadium, Atsuki Taneichi (3-0), a 20-year-old right-hander, allowed two runs, one earned, over six innings to win his third straight start since he was plucked out of a middle relief role on April 29.
Orix entered the game allowing the fourth lowest percentage of runners on base on balls in play (.300) behind the Fighters (.294), the Eagles (.298) and Dragons (.299) and just ahead of the Hawks, imploded in the sixth inning. Very much as we discussed in this week’s podcast, the Buffaloes were impressive in a three-error, four-run inning.
With the game tied 2-2, a dropped fly ball was followed by a single. All were safe on a grounder to second when shortstop Koji Oshiro failed to catch the throw from his teammate.
