The rush for Japanese pitchers to the major leagues accelerated after the success of Hideo Nomo. The courtship of major league clubs has continued year after year, as the hypothesis that top-notch Japanese players can work in the major leagues has been validated.
Along the way, there have been 16 major league starts between Japanese pitchers, and on Aug. 5 (KST), Citi Field, home of the New York Mets, hosted the 17th major league start between Japanese pitchers. It was the first time in four years since Masahiro Tanaka (35, New York Yankees) and Yusei Kikuchi (32, Seattle) faced off on Aug. 27, 2019, so there was a lot of interest from the Japanese archipelago.
In the ring were Kikuchi, now in a Toronto uniform, and Senga Godai (30, New York Mets), who broke into the major leagues this year. The two had met three times on the Japanese stage, with one win apiece.
Both players have strong pitches. Their strikeout rates are among the best in the major leagues. On the flip side, their pitches are a bit shaky. Against this backdrop, it’s no surprise that the game was going to be a tight affair, as both batters have strong bats. However, the game ended in a surprising fashion. Neither player was able to secure a victory, but it was Kikuchi who lasted longer.
Senga, who gained fame as a ‘ghost fork bowler’, cried again as he struggled with his pitches and command. Senga, who has given up 5.62 walks per nine innings this year and is prone to giving up freebies, was rocked from the start. The Toronto offense didn’t miss Senga’s struggles.
Both players worked out of bases-loaded jams in the first inning. But Toronto got to Senga first. In the bottom of the second inning, with the score tied at 0-0, Chapman drew a seven-pitch walk and stole second on a forked ball from Senga. Senga’s bewildered expression was caught on camera.
Basho then singled to put runners on first and third, and Merrifield took advantage of Senga’s fastball in the middle of the plate and hit a double to right-center field. It was so clear that it was going to land in right-center that Basho, who was on first base, took off for home and both runners came home.
Kikuchi worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the second inning, but Senga gave up another run in the third. With one out, Guerrero Jr. took Senga’s first pitch, a four-seam fastball, and sent it over the left field fence. It was a pitch that stuck to the body, but Guerrero Jr.’s bat was stronger.
Two pitches later, he swung again. Chapman, who had taken a forked ball on his first at-bat and saw the trajectory of the ball, took Senga’s forked ball for a two-run double. The next play was ridiculous. With Basho at 3B-1S, Mets catcher Alvarez threw a ball to cover Chapman at second base, but it slipped and Chapman took off for home. It was an error.
A shaken Senga gave up a walk to Merrifield, and the Mets bench, running out of patience, called on Steven Nogosek, who was warming 메이저놀이터 up in the bullpen. Senga struggled on the day, giving up five hits and five walks in 2⅔ innings. His final line was 2⅔ innings, four hits (one home run), five walks, three strikeouts, and four runs (three earned). His season ERA rose to 3.75.
Kikuchi didn’t ultimately get the win, though. Kikuchi, who has walked more batters this year than he has struck out, gave up a solo home run to Pam in the third inning to make it 4-0. Pam harassed Kikuchi again. She homered again in the fifth to make it 4-1 and cut the deficit to two runs. Kikuchi gave up two runs on four hits (two homers) in five innings with one walk and eight strikeouts before handing the mound over to Nate Pearson.
However, Pearson’s two-run sixth inning ruined Kikuchi’s chances of getting the win. Kikuchi could take solace in the team win, however. With the score tied at 4-4 in the top of the seventh, Toronto regained the lead when Guerrero Jr. led off with a single and Belt followed with a two-run shot to center field, and the bullpen was called upon to preserve the one-run lead.