Rookie pinch hitter who made Hiroshima's heart beat just before losing with two outs in the ninth inning, ERA 0 super-special finishing hit a triple in 326 games

May 29, 2025

Hiroshima rookie infielder Sasaki hit a triple after two outs in the ninth inning against Yomiuri on the 28th. It was the first triple of his career given up by Martinez, the Yomiuri Express closer. Photo capture = Sports Nippon Homepage

Sasaki hit a double in his first at-bat in the first inning against Yakult on the 22nd. He reported his first professional hit in two games and four at-bats. Photo capture = Sasaki Dai SNS

Sasaki joined as the first draft pick in 2025. Legend Kanemoto received the number 10 that he wore when he was in Hiroshima. Photo capture = Sasaki Dai SNS

This season, the Yomiuri Giants don't have to worry about the back door. Cuban right-hander Rydell Martinez (29) is again impossible this year. He moved from the Chunichi Dragons last winter and is shooting every game '0'. He pitched in 23 games and posted "1 win, 2 holds, 19 saves". Since the opening, he has completely blocked 22 ⅔ innings without allowing a run. It has a 100% relief success rate and an ERA of '0.00'. With 21 strikeouts, he has only six walks. There is a reason why Yomiuri pays the highest annual salary of 1.2 billion yen in Japanese professional baseball.

The best ending to 'Japan Dream' He had a 0-point ERA for the second consecutive year in 2022-2023 as a member of Chunichi. In 2022 and 2024, he ranked No. 1 in saves in the Central League. This is the time when Chunichi fell to last place for three consecutive years. If he goes out, the situation ends as it is.

On the 28th, something special happened to Martinez. It was in a home game against Hiroshima Carp at Kanazawa Prefectural Baseball Stadium in Kanazawa Prefecture.

Save situation in the top of the ninth inning with a 4-1 lead. Martinez took the mound. The Hiroshima bench would have prepared itself.

He struck out leadoff hitter Minoru Omori with a swing and miss. At ball count 2S, he threw a changeup to a low course outside the left-handed batter to pull out the bat. The second fastball hit 156 kilometers per hour. The next person is Yano Martha. He grounded out to first base. I caught two out-counts with seven pitches.

Hiroshima's rookie, who is on the verge of losing, caught the eye. Dai Sasaki (22), a pinch hitter with two outs in the ninth inning, hit a triple against Martinez. He hit a changeup that fell low outside in 2B2S with a delightful swing.

Yomiuri closer Martinez. He pitched in 23 games before the match against Hiroshima on the 28th, and succeeded in 100% relief. Photo capture =Miuri Giants SNS

It rolled over.

Sasaki ran past second base to third base. The audience became buzzy. The Yomiuri outfielders must have been embarrassed, too.

It was Martinez's first triple in 326 games. The prospect who will be responsible for Hiroshima's future has shown its potential. The away bench briefly forgot about the defeat and cheered.

Martinez threw a 158-kilometer fastball, the highest speed of the day, at the Sasaki batter's box. Sasaki hit a breaking ball instead of a fastball that was difficult to hit. He said "I want to hit a fastball next time. "I gained confidence today," coach Takahiro Arai said, while giving a thumbs-up, "Your batting skills following the breaking ball are great.'

Martinez gave up 10 hits in 22 games before the game. Of these, there were only two long balls.

After going to Aoyama University, he joined the first draft of the 2025 rookie draft. 'Legend'Kanemoto Tomoaki received the uniform number '10' that he wore during his Hiroshima days. Sasaki said in a media interview that he would aim for the home run king.

His debut in the first team was delayed. He made his first appearance against Yakult Swallows on the 20th. 7th - 3rd base and went 0-for-3 with no hits. In the last at-bat, swing and miss

Yomiuri closer Martinez has a 0 ERA in 23 games this season. Photo capture =Miuri Giants SNS

He struck out. On the 22nd, he hit a double to right field in his first at-bat in the first inning against Yakult. He reported his first professional hit in two games and four at-bats. He had two hits on the day. He started five games and made his first appearance as a pinch hitter on the 28th.

Hiroshima lost on the 28th, but saw the future of the team.

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.