Azuma Katsuki (27), pitcher for the Japanese professional baseball Yokohama DeNA Baystars, achieved his 14th win of the season. He became the club’s first left-handed pitcher to record 10 consecutive wins.
Azuma appeared as a starting pitcher in the game against the Chunichi Dragons held at Yokohama Stadium in Yokohama, Japan on the 14th, and became the winning pitcher with 7 hits (2 home runs), 10 strikeouts, and 3 runs while throwing 106 pitches in 8⅓ innings. This is his 14th win of the season, and he is tied for first place in both major leagues with Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Olix).스포츠토토
Azuma was hit on the right foot by a foul ball of his own in the second inning during his at bat that day, but pitched well until just before a complete game. He struck out three times, but also hit a two-run double in the bottom of the eighth with two outs and bases on second and third.
Azuma has appeared in 21 games this season and has 14 wins, 2 losses, and an average ERA of 2.17. He is likely to be the Central League’s most wins leader. There is a difference of 4 wins from the tied 2nd place group at the end of the season (10 wins, 6 players). Additionally, it seems possible that he will take first place in winning percentage (.875) and even win two gold medals.
Azuma also continued his 10-game winning streak with this victory. In the history of the Yokohama club, this is the first left-handed pitcher to do so, surpassing Hiroki Nomura (9 consecutive wins) in 1993.
In addition, it was the third double-digit winning streak in club history, following Endo’s 12 consecutive wins in 1983 and Shimada’s 10 consecutive wins in 1968. Azuma said, “It’s a pleasure to have my name recorded in the club’s records. “I want to strive to aim higher,” he said.
Azuma finished the first inning with a three-way strikeout with two ground balls and a missed swing. He allowed a hit with two outs in the second inning, but he ended the inning by striking out a fly ball to right field and a swing and miss. He continued his powerful performance with a series of three-way strikes in the 3rd and 4th innings.
Leading 1-0 in the 5th inning, leadoff hitter Bisyed allowed a tying solo home run that went over the left field fence. He suffered a hit after allowing a run, but overcame the crisis with consecutive strikeouts with one out and one on first base.
In the 6th inning, with one out and two on second base, he avoided a run due to a missed swing and a foul fly by the first baseman. The 7th inning was a three-way strike, and the 8th inning was blocked without allowing a run.
After one out in the top of the 9th inning, ahead of a complete game, Ishikawa hit a double, and Visyed allowed his second home run (two runs) of the day. He was replaced with an 8-3 lead.
Yokohama scored 8 points by focusing on 11 hits, including 2 home runs (solo, solo) by Shugo Maki and 2 home runs (2 runs, 2 runs) by foreign hitter Soto. With 2 outs in the bottom of the 8th inning leading 3-1, Maki’s solo home run, Soto’s two-run home run, and Azuma’s 2 RBI double gave the team the win with a 5-run big inning.
Azuma said after the game, “I always wanted to make sure to throw a strike on the first pitch. “He was able to throw reliably even when a runner was on base or with a runner in scoring position, so he was able to keep the runs down to a minimum until the 8th inning,” he said.
According to Chunichi Sports, Azuma thanked catcher Yamamoto several times during the postgame interview. He said, “It was a pitch I wanted to throw several times, I thought I wanted to throw this ball after this one, and I was glad that the sign came out as it was.” He added, “(11th) is a victory for Yamamoto, who celebrated his 25th birthday. “I want to wear the same tie and win the Best Battery Award together,” he said.