Sasaki nearly throws 2nd straight perfecto
TOKYO » Japan’s 20-year-old phenom Roki Sasaki almost did it again.
A week after pitching the first perfect game in Japanese professional baseball in 28 years, Sasaki delivered eight more perfect innings Sunday before being pulled after throwing 102 pitches.
The game was tied 0-0 when Sasaki left, and his Lotte Marines wound up losing 1-0 in 10 innings to the Nippon Ham Fighters in a Pacific League game.
Marines manager Tadahito Iguchi defended his decision to pull Sasaki.
“If you think about what’s best in the long run, I thought he reached his limit today,” Iguchi was quoted as saying by Japan’s Kyodo news agency. ”By the end of the seventh inning, he was getting close to hitting the wall.”
The Ham Fighters’ Chusei Mannami, who won game with his home run in 10th, explained the trials of facing Sasaki.
“(Sasaki) is just too tough,” Mannami said. “The way that forkball drops, forget about it.”
Sasaki struck out 14 of the 24 batters he faced, just short of the 19 strikeouts he registered in his perfect game.
Sasaki signed with the Marines out of high school and was scouted by Major League Baseball teams. He is reported to routinely touch 100 mph with his fastball. Kyodo said he was reaching 101 mph when he was pulled.
Acuña ready to start rehab in minors. SAN DIEGO » Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-a Gwinnett on Tuesday as he nears a return from the torn right ACL that ended his 2021 season.
Atlanta said prior to a game Sunday night at San Diego that Acuña would join Gwinnett at Jacksonville for a series beginning Tuesday.
The 24-year-old Acuña is a twotime All-star and was playing like an MVP contender last season before injuring his knee in the outfield at Marlins Park on July 10. He was hitting .283 with 24 homers and a .990 OPS in 82 games at the time of the injury. He was left as a spectator for Atlanta’s World Series title run.
Angels’ Trout hit by pitch on hand. ARLINGTON, TEXAS » The Los Angeles Angels say three-time AL MVP Mike Trout is day to day and
X-rays were negative after he was hit on his left hand by a pitch Sunday.
Trout was struck by a 1-1 slider from Texas Rangers right-hander Spencer Patton leading off the fifth inning. Trout was seemingly handcuffed by the 81 mph pitch, lowering his hands to protect his midsection.
Trout jumped around and shook the hand in pain.
Blue Jays put LHP Ryu on injured list. TORONTO » The Toronto Blue Jays added left-hander Hyun Jin Ryu to the 10-day injured list Sunday with left forearm inflammation.
The 35-year-old Ryu was pulled after just four innings in Saturday’s 7-4 loss to the Oakland Athletics.
Blue Jays broadcaster Martinez stepping away due to cancer. TORONTO » Toronto Blue Jays broadcaster Buck Martinez has been diagnosed with cancer and will be stepping away from the broadcast booth.
Martinez said in a statement released by Sportsnet that Sunday’s game against the Oakland Athletics would be his last for “a little while” as he begins weeks of cancer treatment.
Martinez has been associated with the Blue Jays since 1981, when he began a six-year stint as one of the team’s catchers. He played 17 big league seasons in Toronto, Kansas City and Milwaukee.
He was hired to manage the Blue Jays in 2001 but was fired midway through his second season after compiling a 100-115 record.
Martinez began his broadcasting career as a color commentator in 1987 for Blue Jays games on TSN, and he’s also worked for ESPN, TBS and the Baltimore Orioles. He joined Sportsnet’s Blue Jays television crew in 2010.
Orioles transfer Means to 60day IL.
BALTIMORE » The Baltimore Orioles transferred left-hander John Means to the 60-day injured list Sunday with a sprained elbow. The move wasn’t a huge surprise after manager Brandon Hyde conceded the previous day that it would be a while before Means pitched again. Hyde said then that the 28-year-old lefty — who threw a no-hitter less than a year ago — was seeking second opinions about his injury. That hadn’t changed as of Sunday morning.