“I think that’s the part to reflect on.”
Roki Sasaki (Chiba Lotte Marines) started the 2024 Japanese professional baseball Rakuten Golden Eagles at ZOZO Marine Stadium in Chiba, Chiba Prefecture, Japan, on the 8th and allowed seven hits, seven strikeouts, four walks and three runs in five innings.
Sasaki was shaky from the first inning. He started the game by receiving a hit from leadoff hitter Yoya Ogo. He caught Hiroto Kobukata with a fly ball to the center field, but allowed a walk to Ryosuke Tatsumi, who was in danger with one out and runners on the first and second bases. After striking out Hideto Asamura, he walked Daichi Suzuki to claim the bases loaded, and allowed Yoshiaki Watanabe to hit a timely hit. With the help of defense, he succeeded in being a Bodhisattva and did not lose any more runs.
Sasaki caught Yasuda Yuma with a fly ball to the shortstop in the top of the second inning. He struck out Yamazaki Tsuyoshi and then struck out Ishihara Tsuyoshi. In the third inning, he struck out Ogo, handled Kobukata with a ground ball to the shortstop, allowed a hit to Tatsumi and a walk to Asamura, which was in crisis, but he did not allow a run due to Suzuki’s ground ball to the second base.
Chiba Lotte’s batters scored two runs in the bottom of the third inning to turn the tables. Sasaki struck out Watanabe in the top of the fourth inning and allowed Yasuda to hit infield, but induced Yamazaki to hit a ground ball to the shortstop to catch the leadoff runner. Ishihara grounded out to third to end the inning.
Sasaki was shaky in the top of the fifth inning. He allowed a hit to Ogo. He struck out Kobukata with no outs and runners on second due to Ogo’s stolen base, but Tatsumi hit a timely RBI. He then walked Asamura. He caught Suzuki with a fly ball to center field, but Tatsumi tagged up to go to third base. Watanabe was given a timely RBI single with two outs and runners on the first and third bases. He then struck out Yasuda and came down from the mound.
Chiba Lotte’s lineup helped Sasaki. It came from behind again in the bottom of the fifth inning with four runs scored, and Sasaki was replaced with the winning requirement. Rakuten then scored two runs, but Chiba Lotte also kept the lead by adding three runs. Sasaki achieved its eighth win of the season.
However, Sasaki had to reflect on herself first. She took issue with her poor ball control. According to the Japanese media Sponizia Nex, Sasaki said, “I think it was difficult because I couldn’t get an advantageous count. Overall, it was not good. I think I need to make up for it through practice.”
He went on to say, “I think it’s because the fielders hit well about the team’s victory, but they were pulled out allowing the team to come from behind. I’m glad that the team won, but I think it’s something to reflect on.”
Sasaki achieved the “perfect game” in a home game against the Orix Buffaloes on April 10, 2022. He was the youngest to record the perfect game (20 years and 157 days) in Japanese pro baseball. 스포츠토토
Since then, he has never played full time in a season due to frequent injuries, but he is dreaming of entering the United States. Attention is focusing on whether he will apply for posting after this season.