By DAVID BRANDT
TOKYO (AP) — For 2 days in Japan, the Hanshin Tigers have appeared like the category of the Nationwide League.
In one other signal that Japanese baseball has by no means been higher, the Tigers capped a two-game exhibition sweep over MLB golf equipment with a 3-0 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday on the Tokyo Dome.
Much more spectacular, the Tigers didn’t surrender a run in both sport. Daichi Ishii recorded the ultimate out, freezing James Outman for strike three on a 95 mph fastball to cap 18 scoreless innings in a row.
“These two days were priceless,” Hanshin supervisor Kyuji Fujikawa stated by way of an interpreter.
Hanshin tagged two-time Cy Younger award winner and former Large Blake Snell for 3 runs within the fourth inning when the primary two batters reached base earlier than Teruaki Sato smoked a three-run homer into the right-field seats, the place a jubliant Tigers’ fan membership erupted in celebration.
On the mound, right-hander Hiroto Saiki threw 5 dominant innings, giving up only one hit and one stroll whereas putting out seven. Saiki struck out Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani to start out the sport after which coaxed a innocent popup from the slugger within the fourth.
“Really good ballclub,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts stated. “I thought they played really good defense. They can handle velocity — good with the fastball. The starter (Saiki) had major-league stuff. Good command, good split. And then Sato, he looks the part, he’s a really impressive baseball player.”
Saiki was top-of-the-line pitchers in Japan final season, ending with a 13-3 document and a 1.88 ERA over 167 2/3 innings. The Tigers had a 74-63 document final season, which was good for second place in Japan’s Central League.
The Tigers began the two-game sweep with a 3-0 win over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday after 20-year-old lefty Keito Mombetsu threw 5 good innings. No Cubs reached base till Miguel Amaya smacked a single by way of the infield within the sixth that simply obtained previous the shortstop.
Hanshin additionally dominated on the basepaths towards the Cubs, going 3 for 3 on stolen base makes an attempt.
“They clearly showed they can play at the top level,” Roberts stated.
Japanese gamers have made an enormous mark on MLB, significantly over the previous three many years. Former Mariners star Ichiro Suzuki was just lately elected to the Corridor of Fame and this week’s Tokyo Sequence options 5 Japanese gamers, together with three on the Dodgers with Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki.
Seiya Suzuki and Shota Imanaga play for the Cubs.
The Tigers and Yomiuri Giants have performed exhibition video games towards the Cubs and Dodgers in Japan over the previous two days as a part of the Tokyo Sequence. The Cubs and Dodgers open the common season towards one another on Tuesday on the Tokyo Dome.
Initially Revealed: March 16, 2025 at 3:40 PM PDT
