On the 5th, Masanao Yoshida of the Major League Red Sox hit a two-base hit, his first extra-base hit in an exhibition game.
He also faced pitcher Naoyuki Uesawa, who is aiming to be promoted to the major leagues from a minor league contract and was pitching as a starter for the Rays, and got a second grounder.
Yoshida of the Red Sox started as the No. 5 designated hitter in the exhibition game against the Rays held in Fort Myers, Florida on the 5th.
In his third at-bat of the fifth inning, Yoshida hit a two-base hit to left field, his first long hit in an exhibition game.
Yoshida had 1 hit in 3 at bats.
Also, in this game, he played against pitcher Uezawa, who pitched as the starting pitcher for the Rays.
Pitcher Uesawa, who has signed a minor league contract with the Rays and is aiming for promotion to the major leagues, kept the first inning scoreless, and in the second inning, he faced Yoshida, who was the leadoff batter, and grounded out to second.
However, after that, they were in a pinch with two walks, allowing a timely hit and losing one point.
Pitcher Uesawa, who came off the mound in the second inning, threw 50 pitches, allowing two hits and one run, with three walks and one strikeout.
Pitcher Uesawa reflected, ``It was easy for me to get into the game because I'm used to being a starter.I made a wasted walk, so I want to be able to control it better next time.''
Regarding the two-seam ball he threw to Yoshida, he said, ``It was an in-course ball to a left-handed batter, which I hadn't thrown much in Japan, and I was still practicing, but I'm glad I was able to get him to hit it well.'' I did.
On the other hand, Yoshida said, ``I want to play against them again this season.''