Another eventful week of Japanese baseball is in the books! The High School Summer Koshien tournament is underway as 2024 marks the 100-year anniversary of the cathedral that is Koshien Stadium. Also, Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike fractured her knee throwing out the first pitch for the Yakult Swallows…anyway, let’s get to the action!
Koshien
In an attempt to mitigate the brutal summer heat, the Japanese High School Baseball Federation has decreased the number of afternoon games for this year’s tourney. The championship game will also be held earlier in the morning. A stadium roof expansion to cover the outfield “Alps” seating is set to be completed before the 2028 Spring tournament.
A couple of interesting teams to follow this summer include Ishibashi HS, which is also celebrating its 100th anniversary, and Waseda Jitsugyo, the only school to compete in both the 1924 and 2024 Summer Koshien. Hanamaki Higashi HS — Shohei Ohtani and Yusei Kikuchi’s alma mater — have high expectations as usual.
Tuesday
In a battle of the CL’s top two seeds, Half-Nigerian right-hander Makoto Aduwa (Carp) had a Herculean effort with a 133-pitch complete game shutout against the Yomiuri Giants. Shoma Kanemura (Fighters) was one out away from achieving the same feat against the Rakuten Eagles but allowed a game-tying single to send the game to extras. Luckily for him, superstar Chusei Mannami stepped up with a 10th-inning grand slam to lift the Fighters to victory. Hiroto Takahashi (Dragons) continued to prove why he’s the best pitcher in Japan with seven innings of one-run ball.
Wednesday
Munetaka Murakami (Swallows) hit his 21st homer of the year off Masaki Oyokawa (Tigers). Since the game was called after just five innings due to rain, Swallows starter Cy Sneed earned an unusually short complete game shutout. Ironically, Katsuki Azuma (BayStars) wasn’t credited with a shutout despite tossing nine scoreless innings against the Chunichi Dragons as the game ended in a 0-0 draw.
Thursday
Lotte Marines flamethrower Roki Sasaki allowed nine hits and three runs in five innings against the SoftBank Hawks, but he touched 100 mph numerous times and generated 15 whiffs on the night, so don’t worry too much. Yomiuri Giants ace Shosei Togo shut out the Hiroshima Carp on 118 pitches for his second CGSO shutout of the year (his first since no-hitting the Tigers in May).
Friday
The Chunichi Dragons ambushed the Yomiuri Giants with a five-run 1st inning as Seiya Hosokawa hit his 15th homer of the year. They went on to win, 9-2. Hiroshima Carp catcher Shogo Sakakura had a 5 for 5 night as he continues to turn his season around from a slow start.
Saturday
After being held to one hit through six innings, the Nippon-Ham Fighters took the lead in the 7th when Seibu Lions ace Tatsuya Imai faltered with a walk and hit by pitch with the bases loaded. Yuya Gunji and Kotaro Kiyomiya hit back-to-back bombs in the 8th to put the nail in the coffin. Masato Morishita (Carp) threw a complete game against the Tigers, allowing just one run. The Rakuten Eagles and DeNA BayStars had big days offensively, pushing across 13 and 14 runs, respectively.
Sunday
Carter Stewart Jr. (Hawks) dominated with eight strikeouts over seven shutout frames to lower his ERA to 1.94. His teammate Hotaka Yamakawa took the NPB lead with his 22nd jack of the season. Atsuki Taneichi (Marines) hurled a two-hit complete game on just 96 pitches. Hideki Nagaoka (Swallows) homered twice. Yomiuri Giants outfielder Elier Hernandez had to be carted off the field after breaking his wrist on a defensive play.
This Week’s Team Records
Nippon-Ham Fighters (5-0)
Hiroshima Carp (3-2-1)
DeNA BayStars (3-2-1)
Yomiuri Giants (3-2-1)
Orix Buffaloes (3-2)
SoftBank Hawks (3-2)
Lotte Marines (3-2)
Yakult Swallows (3-3)
Chunichi Dragons (2-3-1)
Hanshin Tigers (2-4)
Rakuten Eagles (1-4)
Seibu Lions (0-5)
- NPB Standings
- Central League Hitting Leaders
- Central League Pitching Leaders
- Pacific League Hitting Leaders
- Pacific League Pitching Leaders
- Yuri’s NPB Pitcher Rankings
