Teruaki Sato extended his NPB-leading home run total to 24 (Photo: Baseball Post)
This week in Japanese baseball: the Hanshin Tigers extended their Central League lead to 9.5 games, Teruaki Sato crushed three more dingers, Kensuke Kondoh reached the 100-homer milestone, Marek Chlup made history as the first Czech-born player in NPB, several new foreign players signed, and much more.
In other news, Japan swept the United States in the Collegiate All-Star Series, winning all five games on home soil (6-1, 8-1, 2-0, 6-5, 6-5). It was their first sweep since 2004. Congratulations to Samurai Japan!
New NPB Imports: Gonzalez, Voit, Ford, Chavis, Davis
Tuesday (July 8)
Kensuke Kondoh’s grand slam
Kensuke Kondoh (Hawks) hit a grand slam for his 100th career home run.
Yoshihiro Maru (Giants) hit a walk-off two-run triple against the Dragons.
Katsuki Azuma (BayStars) threw seven shutout innings against the Swallows.
Hiroya Miyagi (Buffaloes) held the Hawks to one run with 11 strikeouts over eight innings, but was saddled with the loss.
Franmil Reyes (Fighters) hit a grand slam, and Sachiya Yamasaki dealt a complete game in a 13-1 thrashing of the Marines.
Teruaki Sato (Tigers) hit his 22nd jack of the year.
Raidel Martinez (Giants) blew his first save of the season as Seiya Hosokawa (Dragons) hit a come-from-behind three-run homer with two outs in the ninth.
Thursday (July 10)
Kona Takahashi’s seven strong innings
Kona Takahashi (Lions) held the Eagles to one run in seven innings with seven punchouts.
Kotaro Kurebayashi (Buffaloes) hit a grand slam in a 4-0 win over the Hawks.
The Tigers won their 11th consecutive game.
Friday (July 11)
Ryuhei Sotani’s gem
Ryuhei Sotani (Buffaloes) fired eight scoreless innings with ten strikeouts against the Fighters.
Hayato Sakamoto (Giants) hit a go-ahead homer in the 11th inning against the BayStars for the 297th of his career.
The Swallows snapped the Tigers’ winning streak.
Saturday (July 12)
Marek Chlup’s NPB call-up
Yudai Ohno (Dragons) went the complete game in a 7-1 win over the Carp.
Ryota Takinaka (Eagles) tossed a complete game shutout against the Hawks.
Marek Chlup (Giants) debuted and became the first Czech player in NPB history.
Sunday (July 13)
Teruaki Sato’s 24th dinger
Teruaki Sato (Tigers) hit his 24th homer of the season.
Framil Reyes (Fighters) hit his 18th homer of the season.
Yugo Maeda (Hawks) picked up his first career win.
