Daiei: 32 Hit Record

On July 27, 2003 at Fukuoka Dome, the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks soared to several new Japan records in their 26 to 7 defeat of the Orix BlueWave.

The first record Daiei set was most hits in a game. Daiei rapped out 32 hits over 9 innings surpassing Seibu's May 7, 1997 29 hit, 21 run shutout of the Hawks. (What goes around, comes around?) The MLB record, according to Nikkan Sports, was set by the Phillies on August 17, 1894 with 36 hits.

The 36 hits in 55 at bats come to a total batting average for the game of .582, a new record. The previous highest batting average in a game was held by Hanshin who went 23 for 40 (.575) against Chunichi on May 6, 1985.

Even though the difference in score was 19 runs, Orix didn't exactly go down quietly. Orix rapped out 13 hits of their own for a combined total of 45 hits. This surpassed the combined Hiroshima vs. Taiyo record of 42 hits in a game held on April 29, 1986.

Having hit 21 hits the previous evening in their 15-1 defeat of the BlueWave, Daiei became the first team to hit 20 hits in consecutive games. It's also the first team to have 20 or more hit games three times in the same month.

Daiei had 21 singles, 6 doubles, 1 triple, and 4 home runs for a total of 52 bases hit for, a new Pacific League record. The Japan record is held by the Giants (vs. the Taiyo Robins) on October 16, 1948 when they hit for 59 total bases.

Daiei tied the Japan record and set a new Pacific League record for most consecutive hits in an inning, ripping 10 hits in a row in the first inning (a sacrifice bunt and two walks sandwhiched in there) for an 11 run first. Yoshii, who was just recently called back up by Orix, pitched to seven batters, getting on the sacrifice bunt as his only out. The Tigers had 10 consecutive hits on April 30, 1936 and Yakult matched that on April 22, 1998.

The 26 runs Daiei scored set a new record for the Pacific League while tying for 3rd as the most runs scored in a single game. Hankyu scored 32 runs on April 6, 1940. Taiyo is the only team with as many runs or more since the two league system started, scoring 28 runs against Chunichi on October 17, 1950 for the Central League record. During the One League era, the Great Ring scored 26 runs on July 15, 1946, followed by the Giants on August 31, 1946 and October 16, 1948.

Finally, Johjima tied the Pacific League record for most hits by a single player in a game with 6. Johjima had 3 singles, 1 double, and 2 home runs, scoring 4 times and driving in 7 runs. He did ground out to third his second at bat (in the first inning). The Japan record is held by Ohshita Hiroshi of Tokyu who had 7 hits in a game on November 19, 1949.