Japan had two nail-biting 1-0 games decided by late solo homers, Gregory Polanco was a Marine hero again, Leo Cedeno was the big Buffaloes basher, unheralded Carp rookie Shohei Mori had a game as did Eagles rookie Masaru Fuji, who was the benefactor of a big day from Hideto Asamura.
Deniers 1, Giants 0, 12 innings: At Tokyo Dome, Shugo Maki’s 14th home run broke up this scoreless game in the 12th, and Yasuaki Yamasaki earned his 20th save.
Tomoyuki Sugano looked like he was back Saturday, Yoshinobu Yamamoto was also his old self, a new Marines recruit cost his old team a victory in a sentimental game in front of his old fans, and Yakult and Hanshin played a heck of a game.
Buffaloes 5, Lions 1: At Kobe Green Stadium, Yoshinobu Yamamoto (8-3) struck out 13, while walking one over the distance. Reserve utility man Tomoya Noguchi threw David MacKinnon out on the bases to end the Lions’ second and hit a two-out two-run triple off Kona Takahashi (5-6) in the home half. Kotaro Kurebayashi hit his sixth home run with a man on in the third, and that was the ballgame.
The win pulled the Buffaloes into a virtual tie for first place in the Pacific League, and before I let this one go, I have to say that Yamamoto was the victim of one of the worst hero-interview questions I’ve ever heard: “Tonight we had fireworks at the ballpark. What are your favorite kind of fireworks?” The poor guy was helpless.
Continue reading NPB news: July 8, 2023