By David Brandt
Tokyo (AP) – In Japan, the Hanshin Tigers looked like the category of the National League for 2 days.
In one other sign that the Japanese baseball has never been higher, the Tigers ended a 3-0 win against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday with a 3-0 win against the Los Angeles Dodgers in regards to the two-game exhibition.
Even more impressive that the tigers in each games don’t quit a run. Daichi Ishii recorded the ultimate and freezed James Outman for strikes three on a 95 miles per hour Fastball, around 18 goalless innings in a row.
“These two days were invaluable,” said Hanshin, manager Kyuji Fujikawa, through an interpreter.
Hanshin marked the two-time Cy Young winner and the previous giant Blake Snell for 3 races within the fourth inning when the primary two batteries reached the bottom before Teruaki Sato smoked a Homer with three runs into the suitable field seats, where a jubilant Tigers' fan club broke right into a celebration.
The right -handed Hiroto Saiki threw five dominant innings on the hill and only gave up one goal and a walk while he was seven. Saiki excluded Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani to start out the sport, after which exhibited a harmless popup from the Slugger within the fourth.
“Really good ball club,” said Dodger's manager Dave Roberts. “I thought they played really good defense. You can handle speeds – good with the fastball. The starter (Saiki) had stuff. Good command, good separation. And then Sato, he looks out of the role, he is a really impressive baseball player. “
Saiki was among the best pitchers in Japan last season and ended with a 13:3 record and an ERA of 1.88 over 167 2/3 innings. The Tigers had a record of 74: 63 last season, which was good for second place within the Japanese Central League.
The Tigers began the two-game swey with a 3-0 victory against the Chicago Cubs on Saturday after 20-year-old Lefty Keito MombetSu had thrown five perfect innings. No Cubs reached the bottom until Miguel Amaya hit a single through the Infield within the sixth, which was just passing the shortstop.
Hanshin also dominated the fundamentals against the Cubs and three went for 3 for stolen basic tests.
“They clearly showed that they can play on the top level,” said Roberts.
Japanese players have made MLB a giant impression, especially up to now three many years. The former Mariner's star Ichiro Suzuki was recently elected to the Hall of Fame, and the Tokyo series this week shows five Japanese players, including three on the Dodgers with Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki.
Seiya Suzuki and Shota Imanaga play for the Cubs.
The Tiger and Yomiuri giants have played exhibition games against the Cubs and Dodgers in Japan for the last two days as a part of the Tokyo series. The Cubs and Dodgers open the regular season on Tuesday within the Tokyo Dome.
Originally published:
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