Sapporo – First-year Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters import Cody Ponce threw Japan’s fifth no-hitter of the season on Saturday in a 2-0 Pacific League win over the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. Ponce (3-4) hit one batter and walked another while striking out six in his 113-pitch gem that would not have […]
Former Fighters manager Trey Hillman says club’s fearlessness allowed Shohei Ohtani to blossom
A year after becoming the American League’s unanimous MVP, Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani continues to shine, and it is worth noting that without a fearless organization behind him from the start of his pro career in Japan in 2013 the batting and pitching star’s story would be quite […]
Ex-Fighters manager Hillman says club’s fearlessness allowed Ohtani to blossom
A year after becoming the American League’s unanimous MVP, Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani continues to shine, and it is worth noting that without a fearless organization behind him from the start of his pro career in Japan in 2013 the batting and pitching star’s story would be quite […]
Angels’ Shohei Ohtani drives in run during loss against Rays
St. Petersburg, Florida – Shohei Ohtani broke a six-game streak of no RBIs but could not prevent the Los Angeles Angels from suffering their sixth straight defeat as the Tampa Bay Rays won 8-3 to sweep a four-game series Thursday. Batting second as the designated hitter, Ohtani struck out twice […]
Junya Nishi pitches slumping Tigers past streaking BayStars
Osaka – Junya Nishi worked six innings to help pitch the Hanshin Tigers to a 5-0 win over the DeNA BayStars on Thursday, ending Hanshin’s eight-game skid and snapping DeNA’s eight-game win streak. Nishi (5-2) allowed four hits and two walks, and the former Japan under-18 designated hitter went 2-for-3 […]
BayStars closer Yasuaki Yamasaki becomes youngest to reach 200 saves
Osaka – Yasuaki Yamasaki, whose career has rebounded this year, became the youngest pitcher to save 200 games in Japan as the DeNA BayStars won their eighth-straight game, downing the Hanshin Tigers 4-0 on Wednesday. Yamasaki entered the game at Kyocera Dome Osaka with two on and two out in […]
Suspended Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. apologizes for actions
Suspended San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. apologized for his recent positive test for a performance-enhancing substance and said he failed the franchise during his first public media session since being hit with the 80-game ban on Aug. 12. Tatis was remorseful and terse while facing reporters with general […]
Angels owner Arte Moreno positioning team for sale
Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno is exploring a sale of the franchise, the team announced Tuesday. The Angels released a statement from Moreno, who said it had been a “great honor and privilege” to own the team for 20 seasons. In a time of both misinformation and too much […]
Shota Imanaga pitches streaking BayStars to seventh straight win
Osaka – Shota Imanaga hurled six scoreless innings and drove in a run for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars in their seventh straight win, 4-0 over the Hanshin Tigers on Tuesday. The BayStars’ victory kept them within four games of the Central League-leading Tokyo Yakult Swallows, who came from behind to […]
Sendai Ikuei beats Shimonoseki Kokusai to claim first title at Summer Koshien
Nishinomiya, Hyogo Pref. – Sendai Ikuei beat Shimonoseki Kokusai 8-1 on Monday to be crowned Summer Koshien champion and become the first school from Japan’s northeastern region of Tohoku to win either version of the national high school baseball tournament. Sendai Ikuei, based in Miyagi Prefecture, won the title behind […]