May 24, 2021
If Pacific League fans and teams look happier and more upbeat than usual, it’s probably because it’s that time of year again.
Tuesday marks the start of interleague season, a period PL teams probably anticipate as much many in Japan look forward to Golden Week. Central League teams, meanwhile, would probably rather just keep playing each other.
There was no interleague during the shortened 2020 season, as that part of the schedule was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. It’s back this year and scheduled to run from Tuesday to June 13.
If history is a guide, the Pa. League clubs will enjoy it more than their CL counterparts. The PL is 1,098-966-60 against the CL since interleague play began in 2005.
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.
Baseball: Rookies spell relief as Carp get past Giants
April 10, 2021 (Mainichi Japan)
Hiroshima Carp players celebrate their 4-2 win over the Yomiuri Giants in Japan s Central League at Hiroshima s Mazda Stadium on April 10, 2021. (Kyodo) TOKYO (Kyodo) Rookie relievers Haruki Omichi and Ryoji Kuribayashi each worked a scoreless inning on Saturday to preserve the Hiroshima Carp s 4-2 Central League win over the Yomiuri Giants. Starting pitcher Allen Kuri (3-0) allowed two runs, one earned, over seven innings, while leadoff man Ryosuke Kikuchi singled three times, stole a base, scored three runs and singled in the game-winning run. Omichi took over in the eighth at Hiroshima s Mazda Stadium and worked a 1-2-3 eighth against the meat of the defending league champs order. The Carp s third draft pick last year, Omichi needed just nine pitches to notch his fifth straight scoreless outing.
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