Too Long, Too Often - July 2, 2013

In the tiny former farm home of Hiratsuka, the BayStars hosted Yakult in what looked like a cross between a pitchers' duel and a slugfest.

Yokohama's Kazuki Mishima threw a pretty good outing, going 8 innings, striking out 10, walking 4, and allowing just 6 base hits. The problem with his performance was that 3 of those hits sailed over the fences into the grassy hill beyond. It was the foreign power that got to him, Lastings Milledge taking Mishima deep in the 3rd and 5th innings for a solo and 2-run shot respectively. Then Wladimir Balentien took over the lead in the Home Run Crown race for the first time this season, blasting #26 deep to left-center, no doubt about it when it left the bat. (The only thing that was surprising was that it didn't leave the park altogether.) These two accounted for 4 of Yakult's 6 hits of the night.

Otherwise, yeah, Mishima pitched a gem!

But he was outdone by Ryosuke Yagi, Yakut's 2nd draft pick in 2008. Having only thrown 15 innings in 2012 with the top team, the longtime farm hand is still considered a rookie. And against the hapless Yokohama lineup, he threw his first career complete game, holding the 'Stars to just 3 hits while walking none and striking out 8. The longest hit was by Tony Blanco in the 4th inning, a double to right. Takehiro Ishikawa spent some time at second base after a leadoff single in the first followed by a sacrifice bunt. But as you might have guessed, Yagi didn't allow a BayStar to even reach third base, holding Yokohama scoreless for his first career shutout.

With 5 runs coming on 3 home runs, Yakult took this game easily, 5-0.