Yusei Kikuchi, a pitcher of the Blue Jays in the major leagues, started in the open game against the Pirates and gained momentum toward the opening by scoring 1 goal and 5 strikeouts in the middle of the 4th inning.


He played against Yoshitomo Tsutsugo, a pirate who participated in the 4th and first, in two at-bats, and with a walk and a strikeout, he made no hits in one at bat.

Pitcher Kikuchi moved from the Mariners, who had been with the Mariners for three years, to the Blue Jays this season, starting on April 1 in the open match against the Pirates in Bradenton, Florida.



In the first inning, pitcher Kikuchi took a bases loaded pinch with two dead balls and a foreball to No. 4 Tsutsugo from 2 outs, but he managed to strike out the 6th and Perez players with no runs. I did.



After this, pitcher Kikuchi beat the first baseman from 1st base and 2nd base to the double play of Pitcher Goro in the 2nd inning, and in the 3rd inning, he overlooked Tsutsugo and took a strikeout.



He carried a 152-kilometer fastball to Perez in the fourth inning and allowed a solo home run, but took two outs and got off the mound when the number of balls exceeded 70.



Pitcher Kikuchi threw three innings and two-thirds innings to take four hits, one run, one foreball, two dead balls, and five strikeouts, giving momentum to the opening.



Tsutsugo struck out in the third at bat in the 5th inning, and then retired from the defense in the 7th inning, and this game was a no-hitter in 2 at bats.



In addition, Gosuke Kato, who participates in the Blue Jays camp as an invited player, started in the 8th and 3rd in this game and played an active part with 3 hits in 3 at bats.



Kato continues to appeal for promotion to the major leagues with a batting average of 30%, 1 minute and 8 minutes in the open game.

Kikuchi "I enjoyed the match" Tsutsugo "I was very happy"

Both pitchers Kikuchi and Tsutsugo were in the same grade at the age of 30, and pitcher Kikuchi said, "It was fun to be able to play on the stage of the major leagues. I want to liven up the baseball world as a good companion. "

On the other hand, Tsutsugo said, "Yusei has played many times since Japan, and since he is the pitcher I have the most fondness for, I was able to meet him today rather than at bat. I was very happy about that, "he said with a smile.



The Blue Jays and Pirates are scheduled for three consecutive races in September this year during the regular season.