Latest news with #NipponHamFighters
The Mainichi
a day ago
- Sport
- The Mainichi
Baseball: Fighters' Koki Kitayama misses no-hitter in 9th inning vs Giants
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Nippon Ham Fighters right-hander Koki Kitayama came within two outs of a no-hitter Thursday in their 4-1 win over the Yomiuri Giants in interleague. The 26-year-old Kitayama (5-2) took a perfect game into the seventh inning at Tokyo Dome before issuing his only walk with two outs, and Takumi Oshiro ended a no-hit bid by ripping a 1-2 forkball for a solo home run to right with one out in the ninth. "It was a precious experience. Not managing to achieve it means I'm still weak in some aspects, and I'll keep setting the bar high to eventually accomplish it one day," said Kitayama, who struck out five in a 122-pitch gem for the Pacific League-leading Fighters. Giants starter Iori Yamasaki (6-2) had allowed one run over 17 innings in his past two starts but was roughed up early as Daigo Kamikawabata doubled in a run in the second before Ariel Martinez, Yua Tamiya and Chusei Mannami plated a run each in the third. Kitayama, named the 2022 Opening Day starter despite being the Fighters' eighth-round draft pick just months earlier, said he will "keep giving my best to repay" the faith shown by skipper and former MLB player Tsuyoshi Shinjo. In other action, Jon Duplantier (3-3) had a four-hit shutout, fanning 12 as the Central League-leading Hanshin Tigers beat the Lotte Marines 2-0.
The Mainichi
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Mainichi
Baseball: Yoshihiro Maru's tiebreaking double lifts Giants over Fighters
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Yoshihiro Maru doubled in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning as the Yomiuri Giants edged the Nippon Ham Fighters 2-1 in interleague play Wednesday. Yuhi Nishidate (2-0) threw seven innings of one-run ball. Maru's double to center off reliever Takahide Ikeda (0-3) scored Louis Okoye from second base in the bottom of the seventh at Tokyo Dome. The Giants ended their losing streak at four games while halting the Pacific League-leading Fighters' winning streak at three. Cuban closer Raidel Martinez pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to extend his scoreless streak from Opening Day to 27 appearances and picked up his 22nd save. In other action, Teruaki Sato hit his Nippon Professional Baseball-leading 19th home run of the season, a two-run shot in the eighth inning, as the Hanshin Tigers stopped their season-worst losing streak at seven games by beating the Lotte Marines 8-1.
The Mainichi
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Mainichi
Baseball: Chusei Mannami sparks home run barrage as Fighters beat Giants
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Chusei Mannami, Torai Fushimi and Shun Mizutani homered in succession to break open the game in the second inning as the Nippon Ham Fighters outgunned the Yomiuri Giants 4-1 in interleague baseball on Tuesday. Nippon Ham starter Kota Tatsu (4-0) continued his strong season, fanning seven over 6-2/3 innings in which he allowed one run on four hits and three walks. Mannami broke the ice for the visiting Pacific League club at Tokyo Dome with his 13th home run of the year, a two-run blast to right field off a full-count slider from lefty Haruto Inoue (3-6). With none out, Fushimi launched a back-to-back bomb off his second pitch from Inoue, lifting it deep over left field. Inoue retired the next two batters before Mizutani joined the home run party with No. 4 of the season to right. The Fighters extended their win streak to three, while Yomiuri's loss was their fourth straight, dropping the Central League club below .500.
Kyodo News
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Baseball: Asamura records 2,000th career hit in Rakuten's win
KYODO NEWS - 3 hours ago - 20:34 | Sports, All, Japan Hideto Asamura collected his 2,000th career hit in the Rakuten Eagles' 2-1 win over the Nippon Ham Fighters on Saturday, making him the 56th player in Japanese baseball to reach that plateau. His 2,000th came in a two-run first inning when the 34-year-old first baseman drove in the opening run of the game with a single to right at Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi. Asamura added a base hit in the second inning and finished the game 2-for-4. "When I began my professional career, I never thought I'd reach 2,000 hits," said Asamura, who joined the Eagles in 2019 as a free agent from the Seibu Lions. "I'll continue to take it one hit at a time and do my best to win the championship." Kosei Shoji (1-0) tossed six innings of one-run ball. Sachiya Yamasaki (2-2) took the loss. In other action, Shinya Hasegawa hit two of Seibu's four home runs to back an eight-inning gem by Tatsuya Imai (5-1) as the Lions beat the Lotte Marines 6-1. Related coverage: Baseball: Orix's Wakatsuki hits walk-off double on NPB's Opening Day Baseball: Rakuten rookies visit 2011 tsunami-hit town Baseball: Former Yankees ace Masahiro Tanaka vows to break out of struggles
The Mainichi
24-05-2025
- Sport
- The Mainichi
Baseball: Asamura records 2,000th career hit in Rakuten's win
SENDAI (Kyodo) -- Hideto Asamura collected his 2,000th career hit in the Rakuten Eagles' 2-1 win over the Nippon Ham Fighters on Saturday, making him the 56th player in Japanese baseball to reach that plateau. His 2,000th came in a two-run first inning when the 34-year-old first baseman drove in the opening run of the game with a single to right at Rakuten Mobile Park Miyagi. Asamura added a base hit in the second inning and finished the game 2-for-4. "When I began my professional career, I never thought I'd reach 2,000 hits," said Asamura, who joined the Eagles in 2019 as a free agent from the Seibu Lions. "I'll continue to take it one hit at a time and do my best to win the championship." Kosei Shoji (1-0) tossed six innings of one-run ball. Sachiya Yamasaki (2-2) took the loss. In other action, Shinya Hasegawa hit two of Seibu's four home runs to back an eight-inning gem by Tatsuya Imai (5-1) as the Lions beat the Lotte Marines 6-1.
