Tag Archives: Shogo Akiyama

NPB news: Aug. 7, 2022

Sunday saw the second big-name veteran pitcher go off the rails in two days, while the Hanshin Tigers and Yomiuri Giants did their best to tell the world that the Central League pennant race is not as over as it looked a month ago. Hanshin in particular had the kind of contributions from its imports that it projected at the start of the season.

Swallows slugger Munetaka Murakami, who was deactivated on Saturday when it was feared he might have COVID, returned to duty Sunday after testing negative.

Sunday’s games

Eagles 7, Hawks 2: At Fukuoka Dome, it was Tsuyoshi Wada’s day to fall apart. A day after Masahiro Tanaka took the loss in an otherwise good start, the broadcast crew was talking about how they’d like to see the 41-year Wada go the distance after throwing 66 pitchers through five innings when he began missing and the Eagles began connecting.

Haruki Nishikawa doubled on a flat 3-2 low-and-away off the fence in right for a double, Wada misplayed his hand on the ensuing sacrifice, allowing the batter to reach, and walked Hideto Asamura. Hiroaki Shimauchi put a good swing on a belt-high fastball away and drove off the top of the little wall in front of the home run terrace for a two-run double.

That was it for Wada, and Takero Okajima followed by singling in the first of the five runs he would plate for the Eagles, whose comeback was predicated on a fourth-inning magic act from rookie Masaru Fujii. A single, an error and back-to-back walks made it 1-0 Hawks with no outs, but he allowed no more runs. That was it for him, and he got no decision, but was instrumental in the victory.

Continue reading NPB news: Aug. 7, 2022

NPB news: Aug. 5, 2022

Yomiuri got another great start from a rookie pitcher, while former Pittsburgh Pirate Gregory “El Coffee” Polanco provided the extra juice they needed in the outfield and at bat. In the Pacific League the Lions might get a new name for their dome if they keep doing that stuff they’re doing.

Friday’s games

Lions 4, Marines 3, 10 innings: At Seibu Dome, they may be calling the park “Sayonara” Seibu Dome instead of the current Seibu “Your Name Here” Dome after the Lions won for the second straight night on a walk-off home run.

On Thursday it was six-time PL home run king Takeya “Okawari-kun” Nakamura’s 448th career homer that sank the Buffaloes. On Friday it was 29-year-old utility outfielder Seiji Kawagoe’s ninth.

Lions starter Tatsuya Imai walked the first two batters he faced and Toshiya Sato hit the first pitch he saw for his sixth home run. Lotte stranded 12 runners through the first six innings, but solved that problem by not getting any more on base the rest of the game.

Hotaka Yamaka hit his 31st home run in the fourth off Ayumu Ishikawa, and Aito Takeda singled in the fifth and scored on a Shuta Tonosaki single. Tonosaki scored the tying run for the Lions off new pitcher Tayron Guerrero in the eighth. He drew a one-out walk and stole second before scoring on a wild pitch.

Burch Smith delivered three innings of long relief for Seibu in his first game since July 9. Kaima Taira, who’s been filling in for Tatsushi Masuda since the closer got COVID in the middle of July, worked the ninth, and Masuda (2-1) worked the 10th in his first game since July 10.

Continue reading NPB news: Aug. 5, 2022