In that game, Sasaki had 19 strikeouts, including a Nippon Professional Baseball-record 13 straight.Ī week later, he pitched eight perfect innings against the Hokkaido Nipponham Fighters before being taken out by manager Tadahito Iguchi to protect Sasaki's health. On April 10, 2022, the Chiba Lotte Marines right-hander became the youngest pitcher to throw a perfect game in Japanese pro baseball when he did so against the Orix Buffaloes. We still have a long way to go and I know they will continue to support us and I am grateful for that."Ĭhildren cheer for Japan pitcher Roki Sasaki during a public viewing of Japan's WBC game against the Czech Republic in his hometown, Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture. ![]() "I want to thank the fans in Iwate for all their support," Sasaki said. Kyodo News reported that public viewing events were held in those two cities for Sasaki's outing against the Czechs. The tsunami washed away Sasaki's house, forcing his family to move from the city of Rikuzentakata to Ofunato in Iwate Prefecture where Sasaki was a standout pitcher for Ofunato High School. Sasaki was making his WBC debut on the 12th anniversary of the Maearthquake and tsunami that hit northeastern Japan and took the lives of his father and grandparents. Miyagi allowed two hits and a run while striking out seven batters. Left-hander Hiroya Miyagi pitched the final five innings to earn the save. Reliever Yuki Udagawa got the final out in the fourth inning, recording a strikeout. Hiroya Miyagi pitches in the fifth inning against the Czech Republic. "We've been in good form with the first two wins and I was happy to keep the momentum going." "Unfortunately, I gave up that run in the first, but overall I was happy with my performance and felt I used my pitches effectively. "I was very honored to be chosen as the starting pitcher on this day," Sasaki said. Roki Sasaki speaks in a post-game interview and tips his cap to fans at Tokyo Dome. He left the game with two outs in the fourth having given up one run, unearned, on two hits with eight strikeouts and two walks on 66 pitches for the win. ![]() ![]() Martin Cervenka then reached on a throwing error by shortstop Takumu Nakano, allowing Chlup to score the game's first run.īut other than that small hiccup, Sasaki was solid. He clocked 164 kph on his fastball in the first inning and recorded two outs, but then gave up a double to Marek Chlup. The hardest-throwing pitcher in Japan, the 21-year-old Sasaki was the obvious choice to take the mound at a sold-out Tokyo Dome on March 11, the 12th anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami that devastated his hometown. Three years later, Sasaki drew extra attention from major league scouts by throwing a perfect game against the Orix Buffaloes with 19 strikeouts, including a Nippon Professional Baseball-record 13 straight.Roki Sasaki got an emotional win on Saturday, March 11 as Japan defeated the Czech Republic 10-2 to improve to 3-0 and secure a place in the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic. In April 2019, he touched 163 kilometers (101 miles) per hour with his fastball while pitching for Ofunato High School. Sasaki's feats on the mound brought him nationwide attention in Japan while he was still a schoolboy. Sasaki has said he will do whatever he can for the team led by fellow Iwate native and Los Angeles Angels two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani. The 21-year-old Lotte Marines right-hander made his final tune-up at Tokyo Dome on Friday before Japan played South Korea in their second Pool B game. Public viewing events are planned in those two cities for Sasaki's outing against the Czech Republic. Japan's Roki Sasaki on the mound during practice at Tokyo Dome on March 10, 2023, a day before his scheduled World Baseball Classic Pool B start against the Czech Republic.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |