On Wednesday in Japan, the Hiroshima Carp deactivated their most productive hitter this season, the Chunichi Dragons did the same with one of their big guns, while Orix named lefty Hiroya Miyagi to make his first start since April 30 against the Hawks on Thursday.

On the field, Gregory Polanco brought the big power, and opened the door for closer Naoya Masuda to give us the quote of the day and his sudden urge to have a chat with his former pitching coach, whose team saves record he surpassed. We also had what football announcers would call a pulsating draw, between the Hanshin Tigers and Chunichi Dragons.

Wednesday’s games:

Marines 4, Eagles 1: At Chiba Marine Stadium, Takayuki Kishi (2-7) returned to duty in his first start since June 9 and Polanco welcomed him back with two-run homers in the first and third innings. Maikel Franco got Rakuten on the board when he led off the fifth with a double and scored on Yuya Ogo’s sacrifice fly.

Shunsuke Nakamori (1-0) started for Lotte and allowed one run over 5-2/3 innings on five hits but no walks. Kishi went seven innings. He allowed eight hits but no walks. Lotte right-hander Masuda set a franchise saves record with the 228th of his career, surpassing the mark of his former pitching coach, Masahide Kobayashi. The two are now tied at 228, because Kobayashi’s final save came with the Yomiuri Giants.

“When he was coaching, he used to say, ‘Until you tie my record, I don’t want to hear you complaining about anything you little shit.’ So now, I think I need to give him a call.”

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