Even without such a pitcher, Japan won the World Baseball Classic (WBC).
New York Mets Japanese right-hander Senga Kodai (30) put on a ‘KKKKKKKKK show’ against the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are aiming to win the World Series this time.
Senga took the mound as a starting pitcher in the 2023 Major League Baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers held at Citi Field in Flushing, New York, on the 16th (Korean time).
The result was a good pitch with 4 hits, 2 walks and 1 run in 6 innings. In doing so, he struck out nine. However, he withdrew from a 1-1 tie and had nothing to do with winning or losing. The match was lost 1-5 by the Mets. The Dodgers barely managed to win by concentrating on 4 runs in the 8th and 9th innings, unable to move due to Senga’s good pitching.메이저놀이터
Senga kicked off the strikeout parade by striking out Freddy Freeman on 3 pitches with a 97 mph (156 km) four-seam fastball from first base with no out in the first inning. Senga, who finished the first inning simply by catching Will Smith with a double hit from shortstop to second baseman to first baseman, struck out David Peralta with a 97 mph four-seam fastball and Jason Hayward with an 82 mph (132 km) forkball from 1 out and 1 base in the top of the second inning. While doing it, I didn’t lose either.
In the top of the 3rd inning, Senga threw a 98 mph (158 km) four-seam fastball to Muki Betts, leading to a superior solo home run and allowing the first run, but it was Senga’s first and last run that day. After striking out Smith with an 81 mile (130 km) forkball and finishing the inning, Senga struck out both Max Muncy and JD Martinez in the top of the 4th inning, striking out 3 batters in a row, and in the top of the 5th, he also struck out Hayward and James Outman. He continued his momentum by striking out in a row.
The biggest crisis of the day came at the beginning of the 6th inning. Senga, who was driven to the bases loaded with one out, struck out Martinez with an 85 mph forkball, caught Peralta’s ground ball himself, and ‘passed’ it to catcher Francisco Alvarez, putting Betts out as he headed to the home plate, signaling the end of the inning. Senga, who boasted a fast ball with a maximum speed of 98 mph, was replaced by Brooks Rayleigh in the top of the 7th inning with 103 pitches left.
Although he was not named the winning pitcher in the match, Senga, who threw 95⅔ innings in 17 games this season, is cruising with an average ERA of 3.20 with 7 wins and 5 losses.
It was last March. As Senga entered the major leagues for the first time this year, he also gave up his WBC appearance. Nevertheless, Japan won the WBC and stood tall at the top of world baseball. There were so many excellent pitchers such as Shohei Ohtani (LA Angels), Yu Darvish (San Diego Padres), and Rocky Sasaki (Chiba Lotte Marines) that it was difficult to feel Senga’s vacancy. To that extent, Japan’s military power was ‘previous’.