NPB’s 2022 home run leader declined to be overshadowed on Opening Day 2 by MLB’s 2022 home run leader as both league champs won as the 10 teams that didn’t play Thursday in Hokkaido started their seasons.
Including Thursday’s opener at Public Money for Corporations Field Hokkaido, all six opening games were sell outs.
On a downside, it looks like the dire highlights situation in NPB will get tighter and bleaker this year. PL TV is no longer providing embed codes for their highlights, while the Swallows, a reliable source until last season, did not post any on Thursday.
Mid-season offer: 3 free months
Jballallen.com depends on you readers to stay up and running, and your support is needed. All paid subscriptions in July, 2022, get unlimited access to all content, and the free weekly newsletter as well.
So join now and thanks for your support!
Swallows 4, Carp 0: At Jingu Stadium, Munetaka Murakami, fresh off two massive extra-base hits in the WBC knockout stage, hit a two-run homer off Daichi Osera (0-1) in his first at-bat of the season to match Aaron Judge’s season debut in New York on Thursday. Murakami, who struggled through most of the WBC, blasted a two-run sayonara double to see off Mexico in the semifinals and blasted a massive game-tying shot that tied the final before Japan won 3-2.
Continue reading Opening Day 2023 Part 2