The Seibu Lions defeated the Softbank Hawks 5-2 in Fukuoka to take over first place in the Pacific League. Softbank ace Kodai Senga gave up a season-high five runs including Hotaka Yamakawa's league-leading 30th home run #山川穂高 選手の今日3本目のヒットは、今季30本目のホームラン！4番の一振りもあり、この回一気に逆転に成功です！#埼玉西武ライオンズ #seibulions #WILDユニ pic.twitter.com/nbH8pHoeMq— 埼玉西武ライオンズ (@lions_official) July 29, 2022
Hiruto Takahashi of the Chunichi Dragons took a no-hitter into the eighth inning where he surrendered a one-out double to Kaito Kozono, the only hit of the night for the Hiroshima Carp, as the Dragons were run away 9-0 victors at Mazda Stadium. Dayan Viciedo collected five RBIs on three home runs and a walk for Chunichi while also crossing the plate four times. 広島0-9中日(7/29)ハイライトです⚾J SPORTSオンデマンドでは広島東洋カープ全主催試合LIVE&見逃し配信➡https://t.co/O3sifDNVyE#jsports#carp#カープ pic.twitter.com/URAzD4NtJA— J SPORTS 広島好き【公式】 (@jsports_carp) July 29, 2022 After beginning the season with a 1-15-1 record which included losing their first nine games of the season, the Hanshin Tigers are now one game over .500 and took over sole position of second place in the Central League after beating the Yakult Swallows 6-0 at Koshien. The pitching staff led by Yuki Nishi's seven innings held the CL-leading Swallows to just four hits while offensively, recent signing Aderlin Rodriguez hit his first home run as a Tiger and Yusuke Oyama slugged his 21st homer
Highlights: Nippon-Ham Fighters at Rakuten Eagles It was vintage Masahiro Tanaka on Saturday, throwing high fastballs and getting ahead in the count in pitching seven shutout innings, allowing five hits and one walk while fanning seven batters as the Rakuten Eagles waltzed past the Nippon-Ham Fighters 7-0. Left fielder Haruki Nishikawa went 3-for-4 with a walk and two RBIs to lead the Eagles attack while Home Run Derby participant Hideto Asamura slugged his 18th of the year.
The Seibu Lions solidified their spot atop the Pacific League following their 6-0 victory over the Softbank Hawks, Saitama now 1-1/2 games ahead of Fukuoka. The Lions' submarine right-hander Kaito Yoza, who picked up his eighth win against three losses, scattered seven hits while issuing no walks and striking out five, and induced three double plays en route to his first career complete game shutout. The achievement was made in Seibu's 95th game of the campaign, the latest in NPB history that a team picked up their first complete game shutout during a season.
Teruaki Sato hit his 16th home run of the year, his 100th hit of the season, as the Hanshin Tigers moved within single digits of first place in the Central League after defeating the Yakult Swallows 7-3. Aderlin Rodriguez continued his impressive return to NPB reaching base three times including a double, with an RBI and a run scored. Yakult's Munetaka Murakami slugged his 34th home run in a losing cause. Cuban outfield import Pedro Revilla broke open a scoreless game with a fifth-inning leadoff home run and added an RBI insurance run in his NPB debut to help the Chunichi Dragons to a 3-0 win over the Hiroshima Carp. 広島0-3中日(7/30)ハイライトです⚾J SPORTSオンデマンドでは広島東洋カープ全主催試合LIVE&見逃し配信➡https://t.co/O3sifDNVyE#jsports#carp#カープ pic.twitter.com/pqGM7rfmty— J SPORTS 広島好き【公式】 (@jsports_carp) July 30, 2022
Highlights: Yakult Swallows at Hanshin Tigers Joe Gunkel had a stellar performance allowing just three base runners over six innings as the Hanshin Tigers looked to be on their way to sweeping the weekend series against the Yakult Swallows. Gunkel left the game sporting a 2-0 lead with both runs being scored in the fourth inning. With runners at first and third Yusuke Ohyama singled to right scoring Koji Chikamoto, then Kento Itohara's sacrifice fly to center brought home Teruaki Sato for the two-run advantage. Yuta Watanabe relieved Gunkel in the seventh inning, and the night was awarded to Munetaka Murakami. The NPB home run leader hit a solo opposite field liner over the left field fence to cut the Tigers lead to 2-1. In the ninth Hanshin closer Suguru Iwazaki surrendered his first home run of the year as Murakami's power sailed the ball into the oncoming wind off Osaka Bay for #36 to send the game into extra innings. And in the 11th with a runner on, Murakami again went opposite field for his third home run of the evening and his 37th of the season. For the 22 year old third baseman, who now has 141 career home runs, it marks the first time he has achieved a three-homer game. Scott McGough set down Tigers in the bottom of the 11th (including two strikeouts) for his 26th save, one shy of his NPB career high 27 from 2020. Unless the Swallows allow him to be posted before then, Munetaka Murakami won't be available to MLB clubs until he gains international free agency in 2028.
41-year-old Tsuyoshi Wada allowed one run over five innings as the SoftBank Hawks snapped their four game losing streak in beating the Seibu Lons 4-2. 24-year-old Kenta Kurose, Softbank's fifth draft pick from 2015 and still wearing his three-digit numbered shirt from the developmental team, drove in his first career run in his starting debut. Dayan Viciedo went 3-for-4 with three RBIs including a two-run RBI single in the eighth inning as the Chunichi Dragons swept the Carp in Hiroshima for the first time in ten years following their come-from-behind 6-5 win. 中日ドラゴンズ ビシエド8回表 ツーアウト二三塁のチャンス レフトへ逆転のタイムリーヒットを放つ!!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/DJxjmRtRNk— ドラペイ (@Dorapeinet) July 31, 2022
BATTING Average .331 - Keita Sano (BayStars) .318 - Toshiro Miyazaki (BayStars) .3164 - Yohei Ohshima (Dragons) .3159 - Munetaka Murakami (Swallows) .306 - Yasutaka Shiomi (Swallows) On-Base Percentage .449 - Munetaka Murakami (Swallows) .385 - Yasutaka Shiomi (Swallows) .375 - Toshiro Miyazaki (BayStars) .371 - Yoshihiro Maru (Giants) .369 - Keita Sano (BayStars) OPS 1.149 - Munetaka Murakami (Swallows) .890 - Keita Sano (BayStars) .885 - Yasutaka Shiomi (Swallows) .866 - Shugo Maki (BayStars) .863 - Yoshihiro Maru (Giants) Home Runs 37 - Munetaka Murakami (Swallows) 21 - Yusuke Ohyama (Tigers) 21 - Kazuma Okamoto (Giants) 19 - Yoshihiro Maru (Giants) 19 - Adam Walker (Giants) RBIs 95 - Munetaka Murakami (Swallows) 70 - Yusuke Ohyama (Tigers) 62 - Kazuma Okamoto (Giants) 59 - Shugo Maki (BayStars) 55 - Teruaki Sato (Tigers) AVG with RISP .352 - Yasutaka Shiomi (Swallows) .345 - Munetaka Murakami (Swallows) .342 - Shugo Maki (BayStars) .326 - Ryan McBroom (Carp) .325 - Koji Chikamoto (Tigers) Stolen Bases 22 - Yasutaka Shiomi (Swallows) 20 - Koji Chikamoto (Tigers) 17 - Takumu Nakano (Tigers) 15 - Naoki Yoshikawa (Giants) 12 - Kairi Shimada (Tigers) PITCHING ERA 1.37 - Koyo Aoyagi (Tigers) 2.05 - Yuki Nishi (Tigers) 2.59 - Yasuhiro Ogawa (Swallows) 2.70 - Hiroki Tokoda (Carp) 2.74 - Yudai Ohno (Dragons) WHIP 0.86 - Koyo Aoyagi (Tigers) 0.98 - Hiroki Tokoda (Carp) 1.02 - Yuki Nishi (Tigers) 1.04 - Yudai Ohno (Dragons) 1.12 - Yuya Yanagi (Dragons) Innings pitched 122.2 - Masato Morishita (Carp) 111.1 - Koyo Aoyagi (Tigers) 110.1 - Yūya Yanagi (Dragons) 110.0 - Yuki Nishi (Tigers) 110.0 - Hiroki Tokoda (Carp) Strikeouts 94 - Yūya Yanagi (Dragons) 93 - Keiji Takahashi (Swallows) 92 - Koyo Aoyagi (Tigers) 89 - Shosei Togo (Giants) 89 - Aren Kuri (Carp) Wins 11 - Koyo Aoyagi (Tigers) 9 - Shosei Togo (Giants) 8 - Hiroki Tokoda (Carp) 8 - Masato Morishita (Carp) 7 - 4 players tied Holds 28 - Atsuki Yuasa (Tigers) 23 - Hiromu Ise (BayStars) 23 - Edwin Escobar (BayStars) 22 - Tatsuya Shimizu (Dragons) 20 - Nobutaka Imamura (Giants) Saves 26 - Scott McGough (Swallows) 25 - Taisei Ota (Giants) 23 - Raidel Martínez (Dragons) 22 - Suguru Iwazaki (Tigers) 20 - 2 players tied
BATTING Average .355 - Go Matsumoto (Fighters) .310 - Masataka Yoshida (Buffaloes) .292 - Kenta Imamiya (Hawks) .291 - Yurisbel Gracial (Hawks) .289 - Hiroaki Shimauchi (Eagles) On-Base Percentage .428 - Masataka Yoshida (Buffaloes) .395 - Go Matsumoto (Fighters) .391 - Hotaka Yamakawa (Lions) .374 - Hiroaki Shimauchi (Eagles) .367 - Hideto Asamura (Eagles) OPS 1.033 - Hotaka Yamakawa (Lions) .920 - Masataka Yoshida (Buffaloes) .849 - Go Matsumoto (Fighters) .818 - Hideto Asamura (Eagles) .804 - Hiroaki Shimauchi (Eagles) Home Runs 30 - Hotaka Yamakawa (Lions) 18 - Hideto Asamura (Eagles) 14 - Brian O'Grady (Lions) 14 - Brandon Laird (Marines) 13 - 2 players tied RBIs 64 - Hotaka Yamakawa (Lions) 60 - Hideto Asamura (Eagles) 54 - Masataka Yoshida (Buffaloes) 48 - Yuki Yanagita (Hawks) 47 - Hiroaki Shimauchi (Eagles) AVG with RISP .464 - Go Matsumoto (Fighters) .365 - Masataka Yoshida (Buffaloes) .356 - Yuma Mune (Buffaloes) .333 - Hideto Asamura (Eagles) .326 - Yutaro Sugimoto (Buffaloes) Stolen Bases 29 - Akito Takabe (Marines) 21 - Go Matsumoto (Fighters) 17 - Haruki Nishikawa (Eagles) 14 - Hiroto Kobukata (Eagles) 12 - 2 players tied PITCHING ERA 1.79 - Takayuki Katoh (Fighters) 1.81 - Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Buffaloes) 2.05 - Koudai Senga (Hawks) 2.49 - Kona Takahashi (Lions) 2.63 - Masahiro Tanaka (Eagles) WHIP 0.87 - Takayuki Katoh (Fighters) 0.95 - Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Buffaloes) 1.00 - Takayuki Kishi (Eagles) 1.015 - Koudai Senga (Hawks) 1.024 - Masahiro Tanaka (Eagles) Innings pitched 124.0 - Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Buffaloes) 112.2 - Naoyuki Uwasawa (Fighters) 112.0 - Kona Takahashi (Lions) 109.1 - Masahiro Tanaka (Eagles) 105.1 - Koudai Senga (Hawks) Strikeouts 128 - Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Buffaloes) 124 - Roki Sasaki (Marines) 115 - Koudai Senga (Hawks) 97 - Naoyuki Uwasawa (Fighters) 91 - Hiroya Miyagi (Buffaloes) Wins 10 - Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Buffaloes) 8 - Koudai Senga (Hawks) 8 - Kaito Yoza (Lions) 8 - Hiromi Itoh (Fighters) 7 - 2 players tied Holds 29 - Kaima Taira (Lions) 25 - Taiki Tojo (Marines) 22 - Yoshinobu Mizukami (Lions) 19 - Tayron Guerrero (Marines) 16 - Fumiya Ono (Marines) Saves 25 - Yoshihisa Hirano (Buffaloes) 23 - Naoya Masuda (Marines) 22 - Tatsushi Masuda (Lions) 19 - Yuki Matsui (Eagles) 15 - Liván Moinelo (Hawks)
1554412433686822912 is not a valid tweet id Highlights: Chunichi Dragons at Yakult Swallows His name is Munetaka Murakami. The last time we saw him he had belted out three consecutive home runs in his final three plate appearances at Koshien to single-handedly beat the Hanshin Tigers 4-2 in 11 innings on Sunday. On Tuesday against the Dragons at Meiji Jingu, Murakami made NPB history (perhaps professional baseball history?) when he continued his rampage, homering in his first two at-bats to achieve the incredible feat of hitting a home run in FIVE CONSECUTIVE PLATE APPEARANCES. The streak ended when he could 'only' double to the opposite field in the sixth inning. Murakami now has 39 home runs, which equals his career high set just last season. And the Swallows still have 48 games to play! Tetsuto Yamada began the night with his 17th homer of the year, a solo shot that preceded Murakami's first at-bat. And Keiji Takahashi pitched seven innings allowing just four hits and two walks while fanning seven as the Swallows shutout Chunichi 5-0.
The Yokohama Bay Stars returned to action following three postponements through no fault of their own and came away with a 5-2 victory over the Hiroshima Carp to leapfrog them back into third place in the Central League as their chase for a spot in the post-season resumes. Tyler Austin returned to action for the first time since April following elbow surgery when he made an eighth inning pinch-hitting appearance to the delight of the BayStars crowd. おかえりなさい！#オースティン 選手！🏟拍手に包まれた #横浜スタジアム での打席をお届けます！👏👏🎥#スターナイト #baystars pic.twitter.com/EAam6rxGFs— 横浜DeNAベイスターズ (@ydb_yokohama) August 2, 2022
Takumi Kuriyama drew a bases-loaded walk off reliever Hitomi Honda which turned out to be the game winning run as the Seibu Lions scored three times in the eighth inning for a come-from-behind 4-2 win over the Orix Buffaloes. Sosuke Genda went 3-for-5 with two RBIs which included singling in the tying run which handed Honda his first blown save of the year. The Nippon-Ham Fighters defeated the Softbank Hawks 6-5 in Asahikawa where, yes, it's popular there, as well.
Another reminder that For The Fans (FTF) streams delayed coverage of a Pacific League game every gameday. We kick off this week's #pacificleague ⚾#BaseBall coverage with the #chibalotte Marines vs. the #RakutenEagles. @TomEschenJr is on the call🎙️🔊. WATCH it for FREE at 1PM on #FTFSports: https://t.co/kjGjOAVcxW pic.twitter.com/e7FAN5ThVP— FTF Sports (@WatchFTFSports) August 2, 2022
Highlights: Softbank Hawks at Nippon-Ham Fighters Kenta Uehara allowed just three hits and one walk in eight shutout innings as the Nippon-Ham Fighters won a low scoring pitcher's duel 5-1 at the Sapporo Dome. Uehara outlasted the Hawks' Nao Higashihama who also allowed just three hits, but two of those were home runs by Kotaro Kiyomiya (a two-run shot) and Arismendy Alcántara. Kiyomiya added a second two-run blast off reliever Ryo Akiyoshi in the 8th inning while reliever Yuri Furukawa allowed Softbank's only run in the ninth inning when Alfredo Despaigne drove in Ukyo Shuto.
Apart from the one inning he pitched in the second All-Star game last week, Roki Sasaki returned to the mound for the first time since July 1 when a burst blister forced him out after four innings. He was chased out in the sixth inning as the Rakuten Eagles collected five consecutive hits and a bases-loaded walk en route to a 6-5 victory over the Lotte Marines. Shogo Nakamura was a bright spot for the visitors going 3-for-5 and two RBIs and a run scored. In the Central League, Masashi Itoh picked up his eighth win of the year allowing just one run on four hits and one walk over six innings as the Hanshin Tigers beat the Yomiuri Giants 2-1 at the Tokyo Dome. Shosei Togo took the loss despite a strong eight inning performance of his own.
Thursday, August 4 Dragons at Swallows and Carp at BayStars were both postponed (rain) Boxscores: http://hosted.stats.com/npb/scoreboard.asp?day=20220804
Highlights: Orix Buffaloes at Seibu Lions Takeya Nakamura connected on a ninth inning Sayonara solo home run off reliever Jacob Waguespack to give the Seibu Lions to a 3-2 victory over the Orix Buffaloes. For Nakamura, who went 3-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored, it was his second homer of the game. In the fourth inning his two-run blast off Orix starter Sachiya Yamasaki had put Seibu in the lead. Ryoichi Adachi tied the game in the fifth with a bases-loaded two-run single to centerfield. Despite a no decision Lions starting pitcher Wataru Matsumoto recorded a quality start, striking out seven over seven innings.
The Rakuten Eagles hit five home runs while Takayuki Kishi allowed just three hits and a walk over seven innings in their 10-1 destruction of the Lotte Marines. In the lone game in the Central League, rookie Iori Yamasaki allowed just three base runners in eight strong innings as the Yomiuri Giants avoided the sweep by shutting out the Hanshin Tigers 7-0. Before the game the ceremonial first pitch was thrown by 78 year old Masanori Murakami, the first Japanese player to play for a MLB club (San Francisco Giants, 1964-65)