Roki Sasaki of the Chiba Lotte Marines is out for revenge in Japanese baseball. It's a revenge match in a week's time.
Chiba Lotte will face Nippon Ham at their home stadium, ZOZO Marine Stadium in Chiba Prefecture. Sasaki will be the starting pitcher.
Sasaki took the loss in his last start against Nippon Ham on April 10, throwing 123 pitches in 5⅔ innings, allowing eight hits, one home run, five walks, four strikeouts, and five runs. His ERA spiked from 1.64 to 2.56.
The 123 pitches were Sasaki's most in a single game. Still, the five runs were the most allowed in his professional debut. Sasaki, who had pitched well through five innings with one run, gave up four hits in the sixth inning to tie the game at 3-3 after taking a 3-1 lead. With runners on first and third, he allowed the two runners the reliever left on base to score, increasing the deficit to five runs.
The game was played at Sapporo Eskon Field, 안전놀이터 home of the Nippon Hammers. It was Sasaki's first appearance at Espon Field, home of Chiba Lotte.
Since his professional debut, Sasaki has never lost two games in a season, let alone consecutive games against the same team. Furthermore, Chiba Lotte has lost seven straight games against Nippon Hamm this season. Sasaki has a lot of reasons to win.
“I will pitch with all my strength from the first inning and try to contribute to the team's victory,” said Sasaki, who has a chance to redeem himself.
Meanwhile, Nippon Ham's starting pitcher is Shoma Kanemura, who has appeared in 11 games (one start) this season, mostly on the mound.
Chiba Lotte will face Nippon Ham at their home stadium, ZOZO Marine Stadium in Chiba Prefecture. Sasaki will be the starting pitcher.
Sasaki took the loss in his last start against Nippon Ham on April 10, throwing 123 pitches in 5⅔ innings, allowing eight hits, one home run, five walks, four strikeouts, and five runs. His ERA spiked from 1.64 to 2.56.
The 123 pitches were Sasaki's most in a single game. Still, the five runs were the most allowed in his professional debut. Sasaki, who had pitched well through five innings with one run, gave up four hits in the sixth inning to tie the game at 3-3 after taking a 3-1 lead. With runners on first and third, he allowed the two runners the reliever left on base to score, increasing the deficit to five runs.
The game was played at Sapporo Eskon Field, 안전놀이터 home of the Nippon Hammers. It was Sasaki's first appearance at Espon Field, home of Chiba Lotte.
Since his professional debut, Sasaki has never lost two games in a season, let alone consecutive games against the same team. Furthermore, Chiba Lotte has lost seven straight games against Nippon Hamm this season. Sasaki has a lot of reasons to win.
“I will pitch with all my strength from the first inning and try to contribute to the team's victory,” said Sasaki, who has a chance to redeem himself.
Meanwhile, Nippon Ham's starting pitcher is Shoma Kanemura, who has appeared in 11 games (one start) this season, mostly on the mound.