Nippon Professional Baseball’s monster pitcher Roki Sasaki, 22, was knocked out for his first home run of the season and the most runs allowed.
Sasaki started the game against the Yokohama Dena BayStars at Yokohama Stadium in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan on April 18.
He threw 96 pitches in six innings, allowing four runs on six hits (one home run) with seven strikeouts. He left the game in the seventh inning, trailing 1-4, and was in danger of becoming the losing pitcher. “Sasaki gave up his worst four runs of the season,” said Japanese outlet Daily Sports.
In the first inning, Yokohama’s top hitter, Taiki Sekine, tried to bunt the first pitch, but swung wildly. On the second pitch, he was in a bunt stance, but when the ball came in, he picked it up and grounded out to the first baseman. Sasaki then struck out the next three pitches to end the inning. He worked the count with his fastball, which topped out at 163 mph, and threw a forkball for a strike.
In the second inning, he threw a 160-kilometer fastball to leadoff hitter Shuko Maki for a double that hit the left field fence. A grounder to the second baseman put runners at first and third. A groundout to the first baseman put runners at second and third with two outs, but the runner at third made a diving catch and tagged out to end the threat. The third inning ended with a strikeout, a fly out to left field, and a strikeout.
In the fourth inning, Sekine walked the leadoff batter on 10 pitches. A sacrifice bunt to third put runners on first and second, and a grounder to second put runners on second and third. She then gave up a single to left to Maki to tie the game at 1-1.
In the top of the fifth, he was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Yuta Gyoda was hit by a 160-kilometer fastball that broke his bat and was hit by a pitch straight to the pitcher for the second out. With two on and two out, he hit Austin with a 144-kilometer forkball for the second out of the inning.
It was the sixth inning. Sekine was hit by a pitch to lead off. The next batter, Taishi Kusumoto, swung at a wild pitch, and the runner from first stole second. He then attempted a bunt that was fouled off. A 161 mph fastball was thrown for a groundout. The next batter struck out swinging on a 160-mph fastball.스포츠토토
But with two on and two out, he threw a fastball slider (144 mph) to Maki for a triple to left field, allowing two runs to score. Threw a fastball (159 mph) to Toshiro Miyazaki, but allowed a two-run homer over the right field wall. It was his first home run in nine games this season.
The score was 1-4. He was replaced by a bullpen pitcher in the seventh inning.