Tag Archives: Gregory Polanco

NPB news: July 31, 2024

For the first time since June, Wednesday was Roki Eve for those who celebrate. The Marines right-hander will be making his first start since June 8, which was two weeks after his eighth start of the season. In Wednesday’s game, the Marines’ big bats continued to torment the Seibu Lions as all six home teams won.

In other news, the Lotte Marines on Tuesday announced they had signed former Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel, while the SoftBank Hawks acquired 26-year-old infielder Jeter Downs.

Wednesday’s games:

Eagles 3, Hawks 2: At Miyagi Stadium, Hideto Asamura led off Rakuten’s second with his 10th home run, and catcher Hikaru Ota tripled in Daichi Suzuki and Kazuki Murabayashi off SoftBank’s Ryosuke Otsu (6-5). Rakuten rookie Tatsuki Koja (3-4) held the Hawks scoreless until Kenta Imamiya singled to open the fourth, Ukyo Shuto was hit by a pitch, and both scored on a Kensuke Kondo double. Koja retired the last seven batters he faced and three relievers added 1-2-3 innings with Takahiro Norimoto getting his 22nd save to complete the two-hitter.

Continue reading NPB news: July 31, 2024

NPB news: July 17, 2024

On Wednesday in Japan, a young Lion threw his first shutout, Orix manager Satoshi Nakajima questioned his players’ attitude, Jake Scheiner decided a shutout, a castoff continues to have a happy time in Hokkaido, while another player celebrated having a new baby, and a player better known for his arm had a big day with the bat.

Wednesday’s games:

Lions 6, Buffaloes 0: At the domed stadium formerly known as “Prince,” 23-year-old Seibu right-hander Minato Aoyama (1-2) threw his first career complete game, a three-hit three-strikeout 106-pitch shutout.

“His weapon is changing speeds,” Lions GM and interim skipper Hisanobu Watanabe said. “He doesn’t have an amazing fastball, but he is able to jam hitters.”

Orix’s Hiroya Miyagi (3-5) allowed just one walk over the first 5-1/3 innings while striking out six, but surrendered four straight hits, a sacrifice fly and two more hits before he left the mound trailing 5-0. Lions rookie Takayoshi Yamamura homered to complete the scoring in the eighth.

In their last six games, all on the road, the Buffaloes have been shut out four times, and manager Satoshi Nakajima said it didn’t help that players were acting like everything is normal.

“It’s absolutely no good putting on a calm face and going about your business,” he said. “I think that’s our weakness right now.”

Continue reading NPB news: July 17, 2024