Complete game win followed by 114-pitch Bauer 6.1 innings, 3 runs, 4 hits, “I felt like I should have a no-hitter”
A winning streak and a losing streak shuffled the standings.
The top spot in Nippon Professional Baseball’s Central League has changed hands. The Yokohama BayStars took over first place after sweeping a three-game weekend series from the Hanshin Tigers. They won 5-3 on the final day of the three-game series at Yokohama Stadium on Friday.
After starting the three-game series 2.5 games behind, they won three in a row to knock Hanshin out of first place. They have 38 wins, one draw and 26 losses, a half-game lead. It was their first lead in 43 days since May 12, and their 13th straight home win over Hanshin and Yokohama.
Yokohama is this year’s interleague champion. They have 11 wins (7 losses) in 18 games. They continued their good run after the interleague ended. The game against Hanshin was the first of a three-game series in league play that resumed after the interleague.
Yokohama has won eight of its last 10 games (2 L).
The starting pitching has been impressive. Left-handed ace Shota Imanaga tossed a nine-inning complete game on March 23,
Yokohama’s Bauer tossed a nine-inning, one-hit shutout against Nippon Ham in interleague play. Photo credit: Yokohama BayStars SNS
Yokohama’s Cy Young Award winner Bauer pitches. Photo credit: Yokohama BayStars SNS안전놀이터
Atsuki Azuma tossed a nine-inning shutout on the 24th. The two have now combined for two complete games this season.
On the 25th, reigning Cy Young Award winner Trevor Bauer pitched well. He threw 114 pitches, allowing three runs on seven hits in 6⅓ innings to earn the win. Bauer’s 114 pitches were his most in a game this season.
He gave up two runs in the top of the fifth inning with a 3-0 lead. She gave up three hits and walked one. The offense helped ease Bauer’s mind. They scored one run each in the fifth and sixth innings. In the top of the seventh, with the score 5-2, Bauer gave up a run on back-to-back singles and an infield grounder.
Bauer has won four straight starts since June 4 against the Seibu Lions in interleague play. He has four complete games in June and is undefeated in five starts dating back to May 27 against the Junichi Dragons.
Bauer finished without giving up a run for the first time in eight games. Through May 25, he was 5-2 with a 4.04 ERA.
Yokohama’s left-handed ace Imanaga tossed a nine-hit shutout against Hanshin on March 23. It was his second complete game of the season. Photo credit: Yokohama BayStars SNS
Yokohama left-hander Azuma throws a 24-hit shutout against Hanshin. It was his second complete game of the season. With their second straight win, Yokohama moved to within 0.5 games of first-place Hanshin. SportsNippon Headquarters
Bauer said in the postgame press conference, “I thought I had to throw a no-hitter because Azuma Imanagawa pitched a complete game. I felt a nice sense of pressure.”