This is a site about Pro Yakyu (Japanese Baseball), not about who the next player to go over to MLB is. It's a community of Pro Yakyu fans who have come together to share their knowledge and opinions with the world. It's a place to follow teams and individuals playing baseball in Japan (and Asia), and to learn about Japanese (and Asian) culture through baseball.
It is my sincere hope that once you learn a bit about what we're about here that you will join the community of contributors.
Michael Westbay
(aka westbaystars)
Founder
In the bottom of the first, Ishii Takuro led off by drawing a walk. Taneda followed with a base hit (not a bunt!) to left, moving Ishii to third. Next, Suzuki Takanori gave the ball a ride to center for a sacrifice fly. For the first time since the top of the first on May 8 Yokohama had a lead.
Hiroshima tied the game in the top of the third when opposing pitcher Sasaoka led off the inning with a double, then came around thanks to a sacrifice bunt by Kimura Takuya and an RBI base hit up the middle by Higashide.
But Yokohama didn't give up there. With one out, Ishii singled and stole second before Suzuki came through with what turned out to be the winning RBI hit to center to retake the lead. Rodriguez hit an insurance home run in the bottom of the sixth to give the 'Stars a 3-1 lead, which was the final. The home run was Rodriguez' 9th of the season, almost half of Yokohama's 23 home runs.
The win was Yokohama's 8th of the season, compared to 30 losses (and 1 tie). This brings their winnng percentage back up over the .200 line to .211 from .184.
Now, let's see a 15 game winning streak!