Tag Archives: Yoshihisa Hirano

NPB news: Sept. 24, 2023

Hayato Sakamoto reached a career milestone in a crucial game Sunday, while Roki Sasaki‘s progress in his return from an oblique injury took an ill turn, and – as he has been doing with every start recently – Yoshinobu Yamamoto recaptured the PL strikeout lead from Lotte’s Atsuki Taneichi, in his bid to lead the league for the third straight year.

Sunday’s games

Giants 6, Deniers 0: At Yokohama Stadium, Hayato Sakamoto had three hits and drove in multiple runs for the second straight day, while Shosei Togo (12-5) threw a six-hitter. Sakamoto’s first homer and his 21st of the season made him the 49th player to drive in 1,000 runs in Japanese pro baseball, with 1,001. He added a three-run shot to dead center in the ninth, and Togo stranded two in the ninth to finish his second shutout on 113 pitches.

Continue reading NPB news: Sept. 24, 2023

NPB news: July 29, 2023

There was no blog Friday as the wife and I went to see the new Hayao Miayazaki movie, “The Boy and the Heron,” and didn’t get back till late. On Saturday we had two day games, one at Tokyo Dome and one in Hokkaido, where it’s still cool enough to play in the daytime with the roof open. Meanwhile, the Marines have recruited a utility infielder for their stretch run.

Meanwhile, I shared my thoughts on the Angels’ decision not to trade Shohei Ohtani, why I like that decision and why it probably won’t help the team re-sign their superstar.

Saturday’s games

Buffaloes 4, Fighters 3: At Kitahiroshima Taxpayers Burden Field, Kotaro Kiyomiya homered to make it a one-run game but offered at a borderline 3-2 forkball from Yoshihisa Hirano with one out and the bases loaded and grounded into a game-ending double play as Orix snapped a three-game losing streak.

James Marvel worked two scoreless innings for the Fighters and Bryan Rodriguez worked another.

Continue reading NPB news: July 29, 2023