Fukuoka – Kimiyasu Kudo, the SoftBank Hawks’ five-time Japan Series-winning manager, has stepped down, the Pacific League club said Tuesday, after the team ended the season in fourth and missed the playoffs for the first time in his seven-year tenure. The 58-year-old guided the Hawks to the PL pennant in […]
Temps de lecture : 5 Minutes
Shohei Ohtani considers historic season a ‘blueprint’ for next year
Shohei Ohtani is not looking to produce a repeat of a season that saw him make history, shatter even the wildest expectations and do things on an MLB field no one has seen in over 100 years. Instead, Ohtani’s brilliant two-way campaign in 2021 might just have been the blueprint […]
Temps de lecture : 3 Minutes
Orix finishes season atop PL with Lotte chasing magic number
Sendai – The Orix Buffaloes moved top of the Pacific League in their final game of the regular season Monday as Yoshinobu Yamamoto capped his stellar year with a four-hit shutout of the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in a 4-0 win. Yamamoto (18-5) outpitched former New York Yankee Masahiro Tanaka […]
Temps de lecture : 8 Minutes
On a polarizing team, Dusty Baker is a manager worth rooting for
Houston – Twin traumas have haunted Dusty Baker for nearly two decades. Late Friday, they fused as he tried to clinch a pennant as manager of the Houston Astros. If Baker had chosen to hide until the storm blew over, you’d have understood: He was leading 5-0 in Game 6 […]
Temps de lecture : 2 Minutes
Ayumu Ishikawa pitches Marines to crucial win
Chiba – Ayumu Ishikawa struck out six over eight scoreless innings and the Chiba Lotte Marines held on for a 3-2 win over the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters on Sunday to move into the Pacific League lead. The Marines pushed past the Orix Buffaloes on winning percentage, .558 to .556. […]
Temps de lecture : 8 Minutes
Retiring greats get deserved curtain calls as NPB season wraps up
When Daisuke Matsuzaka came face-to-face with the end of a career that spanned over two decades last week, he smiled. It was more of a smirk at first — perhaps a sign of annoyance after walking Kensuke Kondo on five pitches — but the expression broadened when Seibu Lions pitching […]
Temps de lecture : 3 Minutes
Braves oust defending champion Dodgers to reach World Series
The Atlanta Braves reached the World Series on Saturday, toppling the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers 4-2 to wrap up the National League Championship Series in six games. The Braves, who will face the American League champion Houston Astros in MLB’s annual season climax, rolled over the Dodgers by jumping […]
Temps de lecture : 3 Minutes
Marines counterattack wins day as Lotte eyes pennant
Chiba – Takashi Ogino singled in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth, lifting the pennant-chasing Chiba Lotte Marines to a 4-3 walk-off win over the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters on Saturday afternoon. The win at Zozo Marine Stadium reduced the second-place Marines’ magic number to clinch their […]
Temps de lecture : 2 Minutes
Shohei Ohtani named finalist for top award voted on by players
New York – Shohei Ohtani has been named as a finalist for two Players Choice Awards, including the top prize, presented by the Major League Baseball Players Association. The Los Angeles Angels’ two-way star is one of three nominees for Player of the Year, along with Toronto Blue Jays infielder […]
Temps de lecture : 4 Minutes
Chris Taylor connects on three home runs to help Dodgers stay alive in NLCS
Los Angeles – Chris Taylor hit three home runs as the Los Angeles Dodgers saved their season with a 11-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves to stay alive in the National League Championship Series on Thursday. Left-fielder A.J. Pollock connected on two homers and the Dodgers’ bullpen held firm as […]