A perfect game followed by a victory. However, this 24-year-old young man calmly accepted the reality.
Rather, he gave comfort to the bullpen pitcher who allowed the score, saying, “I will definitely take care of you next time.”
This is the story of Shoki Murakami (24), a pitcher who became the center of controversy after being replaced just before a perfect game.
A perfect game followed by a victory. However, this 24-year-old young man calmly accepted the reality.
Rather, he gave comfort to the bullpen pitcher who allowed the score, saying, “I will definitely take care of you next time.”
This is the story of Shoki Murakami (24), a pitcher who became the center of controversy after being replaced just before a perfect game.
Murakami had a perfect game in front of him in the match against the Yomiuri Giants held at the Tokyo Dome on the 12th.
He pitched scoreless with no hits and no walks, 스포츠토토striking out five through the seventh inning. At that time, the number of pitches was only 84 pitches.
In the top of the 8th inning, he was replaced by a pinch hitter on offense and could no longer get on the mound. The moment he had the opportunity of a lifetime, but the moment he was replaced, everything went to waste.
In addition, in the next Yomiuri offense, Ishii, a changed pitcher, allowed Okamoto a solo home run to tie the score, and the victory flew.
But Murakami was a player with an extraordinary heart.
He calmly accepted the reality and expressed his intention to prepare for the next match.
Murakami said, “(When I was notified of the change after the 7th episode), it felt like a normal ‘change?’. It was good that he threw the 7th inning. There is no way that good results would come out just because I threw. I just did my best to throw one inning and one inning in front of me,” he confessed his thoughts.
The highest speed of the day was 148 km. In the era of the light speed ball, it wasn’t that noticeable speed. However, he produced good results by showing off his cut fastball, two-seam fastball, and forkball.
Murakami said, “For the breaking ball to go well, the fastball must have power. During self-training with Aoyagi-senpai last winter, I learned how to wear my left foot, which is a pivotal foot, and how to take care of myself on the mound. He is grateful to Aoyagi-senpai,” he said and turned the ball to the senior.
In the confrontation with Okamoto, the 4th hitter of Yomiuri, which he always said was his desire, he showed a perfect appearance with 2 at-bats, no hits and 1 strikeout.
Murakami said, “(Ishii-senpai) felt that it was amazing to block the remaining batters after hitting a home run. He thinks he will get help in the future. He recalled the tie situation, saying, “I didn’t mind because I thought he would cause a lot of trouble.”
Sports Nippon said, “It wasn’t the team’s first feat, but it was the 84 pitch that made its name known throughout Japan. I think I can throw with confidence (next time). Definitely will be chosen next time. It is not too far away that Gobi’s first victory will fly.”
Murakami was born on June 25, 1998 (Hei 10). He is 24 years old from Hyogo Prefecture. From the first year of elementary school, he started playing baseball at the Gashu Boys’ Baseball Club.
He participated in Koshien three times. In the spring of his junior year, he won the championship with a total of five complete games. After graduating from college, he joined Hanshin with the 5th pick in the 2020 season draft.
He recorded the most wins in 21 years and the most strikeouts in 2022, in addition to 1st place in average ERA & win rate for 2 consecutive years from a rookie in the 2nd team.
The Japanese professional baseball perfect game was achieved by 16 players, including Roki Sasaki on April 10, 2022.
There is no Hanshin pitcher who achieved this. Nine players, including Kei Igawa in the game against Hiroshima on October 4, 2004, achieved a no-hit no-run by Hanshin pitchers.