Last year, the Hanshin Tigers, who finished 2nd in the Central League of Japanese professional baseball, defeated the Chicago Cubs with a solid pitching performance.
Hanshin secured a 3-0 victory in an exhibition game against the Chicago Cubs at Tokyo Dome on the 15th.
In the 3rd inning, Hanshin set up a 1st and 3rd base chance with a double by Umeno Ryotaro and a sacrifice bunt by Obata Ryuhei. Although Nakano Takumu was retired on a swing and a Samjin, Chikamoto Koji’s double allowed them to score the first run.
In the 4th inning, leadoff hitter Morishita Shota reached base with a single to right field. While Oyama Yusuke was retired on a swing and a Samjin, Morishita stole second base, and Maekawa Ukyo hit a timely hit to extend the lead by one more run.
In the 5th inning, after one out, Nakano Takumu walked and stole second, while Kitamoto Koji also walked, putting two runners on base. Sato Teruaki hit a single, widening the score to 3-0.
Hanshin used five pitchers on the mound. Their stable pitching was highlighted, as they only issued two walks.
In contrast, the Cubs had a chance in the 9th inning with one out and runners on first and second, but failed to convert it into a score. Seiya Suzuki, who appeared as the Cubs' designated hitter, managed to get one hit.
On that day, they employed nine pitchers, assigning a maximum of one inning to each. They pitched relatively well, but the batting lineup did not perform as expected, leaving a sense of regret.
Meanwhile, a friendly match between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Yomiuri Giants will take place at Tokyo Dome on the same day at 7 p.m. The Dodgers' MVP trio, including Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman, are expected to participate.
Yomiuri finished first in the Central League last year with a record of 77 wins and 59 losses. It is a prestigious team well known to domestic fans as it is the team that Lee Seung-yeop, the manager of the Doosan Bears, was associated with.
[OSEN]