Tag Archives: Domingo Santana

NPB news: Aug. 6, 2024

On Tuesday, we learned that Hiroshima’s Makoto Aduwa is one composed, cool dude, and on a day of great importance for Japan, some really, really true words from his skipper, Takahiro Arai, along with other games and comments.

Tuesday’s games:

Carp 5, Giants 0: At Tokyo Ugly Dome, Makoto Aduwa (6-3) threw a three-hitter for his first career shutout. The son of a Nigerian father and a Japanese former volleyball player, the 196-centimeter Aduwa, whose career has been plagued by injury, showed little emotion when the final out was recorded and afterward excelled at putting things in perspective.

“More than anything, today is a special day for Hiroshima and for Japan,” he said, referring to the 79th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945. “Once the game started, however, that’s where my focus was.”

Shogo Akiyama doubled to lead off the game and scored on a Kaito Kozono single off Iori Yamasaki. The Carp added two runs in the fifth on a Ryosuke Kikuchi leadoff walk, a Kota Hayashi single, and a comebacker from Akiyama that Yamasaki couldn’t field that loaded the bases. Takayoshi Noma fouled off five two-strike pitches before lining Yamasaki’s 11th offering past first for a two-run single.

The Carp then started going deep as Shogo Sakakura and Shota Suekane, in his first game since he was hurt on June 22, opened the sixth inning with back-to-back home runs.

In the sixth inning, Aduwa fell behind Takumi Oshiro with two outs and the bases loaded, but got him to ground out.

“I focused on the little things,” Aduwa said. “If I did give up a hit there, it wasn’t like I was going to die or anything.”

When asked if he was always too cool for school and showing so little emotion, Aduwa said, “It’s a team game. It’s not all about me.”

Carp manager Takahiro Arai added, “Aug. 6 is a special day. I’m so thankful that we are able to play baseball in peace.”

Continue reading NPB news: Aug. 6, 2024

NPB news: July 3, 2024

On Wednesday, we learned that a Lions player has apparently been caught with his pants down, while Teruaki Sato and Domingo Santana had big hits but were still unhappy about Japan’s new ball.Under the heading of news that failed to make yesterday’s blog, the Marines signed a new import, with a family connection to the team.

Wednesday’s games:

Tigers 2, Carp 1: At New Hiroshima Citizens Stadium, Teruaki Sato giveth and Teruaki giveth away. Fortunately for Hanshin he did more of the former to back the outstanding pitching of Kotaro Otake (5-4), who combined with three relievers on a three-hitter.

Sato snapped a 122-plate appearance homerless drought in the second inning off Allen Kuri (4-5).

“I’ve hit a lot of balls recently that I was sure were gone, only to see them not go out. I’m glad this one did,” Sato said.

Sato then opened the door for the Carp to tie it with a two-out throwing error in the fifth after Otake retired the first 15 batters he faced. Carp shortstop Masaya Yano followed with a triple to tie it. Sato, who walked in the fourth, put Hanshin ahead again with his second solo homer of the game. Javy Guerra allowed a hit in two-thirds of an inning, Takuma Kirishiki got the final out and Suguru Iwazaki collected his 11th save.

Hanshin’s win moved the defending CL champions to within two games of the Carp, who have lost three straight. It also was Akinobu Okada’s 514th victory as Tigers manager, moving him into a tie with Hall of Famer Sadayoshi Fujimoto.

Continue reading NPB news: July 3, 2024