There were two 2021 debuts that merited attention in NPB on Saturday.
One was the return of Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles pitcher Masahiro Tanaka, who stepped back on an NPB mound for the first time since 2013. The other was a relief appearance by Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks pitcher Carter Stewart Jr. against the Seibu Lions at MetLife Dome in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture.
Tanaka garnered most of the headlines, but Stewart’s first steps in NPB could have a greater impact in the long run.
Stewart was called upon to mop up in the ninth inning of the Hawks’ 7-1 win over the Lions. He threw 19 pitches, walked the first batter he faced, struck out two and topped out at 153 kph (95 mph) in a scoreless inning.
Masahiro Tanaka of the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles on April 17 lost his first game after returning to Japanese professional baseball. (The Asahi Shimbun)
Former New York Yankees All-Star pitcher Masahiro Tanaka lost his debut Saturday in his return to professional baseball in Japan.
Tanaka, a 32-year-old right-hander, gave up three runs and four hits over five innings as his Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles fell 4-1 to the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters.
Before transitioning to Major League Baseball, Tanaka pitched for the Golden Eagles of the Nippon Professional Baseball from 2007-13. The loss Saturday snapped a string of 28 straight wins in Japan for Tanaka.
Apr 18, 2021
Masahiro Tanaka didn’t have the return to Japan he’d hoped for, but it was an important first step nonetheless.
Tanaka was back on an NPB mound for the first time since 2013 and was given a rough welcome by the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters on Saturday afternoon at Tokyo Dome.
Sho Nakata absolutely crushed a high fastball for a two-run home run in the first inning and Kazunari Ishii opened the second with a solo shot. Tanaka didn’t give up anything else, but the damage had been done.
He took the loss in his first game back with the Fighters winning 4-1 after allowing three runs on four hits in five innings. The result snapped his record 28-game regular-season winning streak, which began with a victory over the Fighters in 2012.
2021/04/18 01:31 Masahiro Tanaka allowed Sho Nakata’s two-run homer in the first inning of the pitcher’s return to Japanese baseball, a 4-1 loss for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles to the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters at the Tokyo Dome on Saturday. The 32-year-old right-hander signed with the Pacific League club in January after completing a $155 million, seven-year contract with the New York Yankees. Tanaka (0-1) allowed three runs and four hits in five innings with five strikeouts and a walk. He also gave up Kazunari Ishii’s home run in the second. The defeat ended Tanaka s 28-game regular-season winning streak in Japan.
Apr 17, 2021
The Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters rediscovered some of their missing power in time to welcome Masahiro Tanaka back to Japan.
Sho Nakata hit a two-run homer in the first inning, Kazunari Ishii went deep in the second and the Fighters spoiled Tanaka s season debut with a 4-1 win over the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles on Saturday afternoon at Tokyo Dome. He s a pitcher who represents Japan, he s an amazing pitcher, Nakata said of his homer in the first inning. I just connected and I m glad I got that hit.
Tanaka, making his highly anticipated return to Japan after seven seasons with the New York Yankees, allowed three runs over five innings. He was charged with the loss, which ended a 28-game regular-season win streak that began in 2012. Tanaka also remained stuck on 99 career NPB wins.