Aces Hiroya Miyagi & Tatsuya Imai went toe-to-toe on May 31 (Photo: PLTV)
The Hanshin Tigers became the first team in Nippon Professional Baseball to reach 30 wins this year and take the best record in Japan (30-20-2) into June. That also means it’s for interleague play, where teams will play a series against each of the six sides from the opposite league over the next three weeks. These matchups often prove to be season-defining, shaking up the standings in a big way.
So, with interleague on the horizon, let’s take a look at who closed out May on a high note.
Reigning PL MVP Kensuke Kondoh (Hawks) returned from injury and got two hits.
Yi-Lei Sun (Fighters) recorded his first career save.
Taichi Ishiyama (Swallows) registered his 100th career save.
The Tigers defeated the BayStars on a walk-off walk in extras. Trevor Bauer got a no-decision despite striking out 12 batters in eight innings.
Wednesday (May 28)
Ukyo Shuto’s walk-off
Ukyo Shuto (Hawks) walked off the Fighters after Livan Moinelo allowed no earned runs over eight innings.
Yutaro Watanabe (Lions) threw seven shutout innings against the Eagles.
Thursday (May 29)
Maikel Franco 2-run homer
Kyle Muller (Dragons) threw seven scoreless innings in a 6-0 win over the Swallows.
Maikel Franco (Eagles) led the Eagles past Natsuki Takeuchi and the Lions, 6-3.
Friday (May 30)
Chusei Mannami’s 10th homer on the 11th pitch of the AB
Franmil Reyes and Chusei Mannami (Fighters) each hit their 10th homers of the season as the Fighters topped the Marines, 4-1.
Shoki Murakami (Tigers) registered his seventh win of the season with seven innings, seven strikeouts, and just one run allowed against the Carp.
Saturday (May 31)
Hiroya Miyagi & Tatsuya Imai face off
Tatsuya Imai (Lions) and Hiroya Miyagi (Buffaloes) both took a no-decision in a battle of two of Japan’s most dominant starters. Imai: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 7 K, 121 P, 22 Whiffs. Miyagi: 7.0 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 10 K, 113 P, 13 Whiffs.
Tomoya Noguchi (Buffaloes) hit a walk-off home run in extras.
Yuya Gunji (Fighters) walked off the Marines (his third of the season).
Shugo Maki (BayStars) hit his 10th homer in a 5-2 win over the Swallows.
Sunday (June 1)
Teruaki Sato’s 13th jack
Teruaki Sato (Tigers) extended his NPB lead with his 13th home run.
Franmil Reyes (Fighters) hit a walk-off home run against the Marines.
Masaru Fujii (Eagles) threw 7 ⅓ shutout frames against the Hawks.
