(Photo: Doshin Sports)
Another week of Nippon Professional Baseball action is in the books, and the pennant races continue to tighten. In the Pacific League, the Saitama Seibu Lions have lost their grip on first place, with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks opening up a three-game lead. The Hokkaido Nipponham Fighters remain firmly in the mix as well.
Over in the Central League, the rival Hanshin Tigers and Yomiuri Giants remain tied for first, with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows still within striking distance.
Off the field, Stanford University sophomore Rintaro Sasaki was in Fukuoka this week to meet with the Hawks. The 21-year-old attended a game and toured the team’s minor league facilities after recently participating in the MLB Draft Combine.
Sasaki is eligible for selection in the upcoming MLB Draft, but SoftBank already secured his NPB negotiation rights last October, leaving the slugger with a major decision about where to begin his professional career. At the moment, that choice appears to be leaning increasingly toward Japan.
Tuesday (6/30)
- Shota Morishita (Tigers) hit two home runs, including a walk-off shot in the 10th inning versus the Dragons.
- Ryoya Kurihara (Hawks) belted his 21st home run in a 6-0 win over the Lions.
- Toshiya Satoh (Marines) hit a grand slam in a 5-2 win against the Eagles.
Wednesday (7/1)
- Takayuki Katoh (Fighters) tossed a three-hit complete game shutout against the Buffaloes.
- Toshiya Satoh (Marines) crushed his 10th homer in a 5-0 win against the Eagles.
- The Hawks blew out the Lions, 11-0, with Rintaro Sasaki in attendance.
Thursday (7/2)
- The Fighters became the first team in NPB history to open the game with four consecutive home runs (Mizutani, Mizuno, Reyes, Mannami).
- Kohei Arihara (Fighters) picked up his 100th career NPB win against the Buffaloes.
- Ryosuke Ohtsu (Hawks) threw seven innings of one-run ball to help complete a sweep over the Lions.
- Shota Morishita (Tigers) smashed his 20th homer of the campaign in a 3-2 loss to the Dragons.
Friday (7/3)
- Takahisa Hayakawa (Eagles) struck out a career-high 12 batters over eight shutout innings in an 8-0 win against the Fighters.
- Yudai Ohno (Dragons) tossed eight shutout innings in a 1-0 win over the Giants.
- Toshiro Miyazaki (BayStars) went 3 for 5 with a home run in a 7-2 victory in extras against the Swallows.
Saturday (7/4)
- Shugo Maki and Kouki Kajiwara (BayStars) combined for eight RBI in a 12-1 rout of the Swallows. Kentaro Shinogi got the complete game win.
- Sam Long (Marines) delivered seven scoreless frames in an 8-1 win versus the Hawks.
- Kenta Maeda (Eagles) took a shutout into the ninth inning in a 4-1 victory over the Fighters.
Sunday (7/5)
- Kensuke Kondoh (Hawks) hit his 19th and 20th home runs of the season in a 7-2 victory versus the Marines.
- Yuki Nomura (Fighters) hit his 10th homer in a 6-3 win against the Eagles.
- Haruto Inoue (Giants) hurled seven shutout frames in a 1-0 win against the Dragons.
- Anderson Espinoza (Buffaloes) went seven innings of one-run ball in a 3-1 win over the Lions.
