Replacing sunstroke in a night game at Dom Stadium...After taking the mound in 10 days, the ace suddenly collapsed after 2nd inning, and the sauna dome with only the roof was a problem
Jun 28, 2025
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Imai went 6-2 with a 1.17-104 ERA in 12 games since the opening game. At the time of 12 games, he ranked first in multiple wins, ERA, strikeouts, and pitching innings (92 innings).
He pitched a shutout against the Yokohama BayStars in an interleague away game on the 17th, allowing two hits and no runs in nine innings. He recorded '17 strikeouts without four pitches. He rewrote the record for the most strikeouts in a game as a Seibu pitcher, surpassing Daisuke Matsuzaka (16 strikeouts in 2004). His ball power was so overwhelming that his fastball, which struck out the last batter swinging, hit '157 km/h'.
On the 27th, Tokoroza and Beruna Dome in Saitama Prefecture (Seibu Dome). The interleague ended and the league game resumed. The first opponent is the Nippon Ham Fighters, the No. 1 player in the Pacific League. Ace Imai started. He threw 123 pitches against Yokohama and took the mound for the 13th time in 10 days.
One hit and no run until the third inning. I caught 5 out of 9 out count. He continued his near-perfect pitching as in the previous game.
Leading 2-0 in the fourth inning, Nippon Ham's leadoff hitter Damiya Yooa hit a superior home run. At 2B, a 137km/h slider was slightly pushed to the middle. Suddenly, the atmosphere turned weird. He then sent out No. 3 Kiyomiya Kotaro with a right-handed hit. He handled the follow-up hitter with a ground ball, struck out, and allowed a walk.
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The unexpected situation caused the Beruna Dome to tremble. After grasping the situation, the coaching staff rushed to the mound with towels and water. Imai, who left the ground for treatment, did not return. Right-hander Yamada was replaced by Haruto. It happened in an instant.
Imai was immediately taken to the hospital. Coach Fumiya Nishiguchi said he was in poor condition. He said he would decide the next game after looking at his condition.
Japanese media said that sunstroke was suspected. However, it is a night game held at the dome stadium. Sunstroke usually occurs in midsummer heat, mainly during the day. It is dangerous when exposed to strong sunlight and hot temperatures for a long time.
However, many Japanese baseball players have pointed out that there is a problem with the high-temperature and humid structure of Beruna Dome. Veruna Dome is different from general dome stadiums such as Tokyo Dome, Sconfield, and Fukuoka Dome. It is in the form of a roof with a pillar erected in a general ballpark. There is no outer wall, so heating and cooling are impossible like other dome stadiums. In addition, the ground is built in a lower area than the surface. In some cases, a home run with a large distance goes out of the field.
In the meantime, away teams in the summer have complained about the hot and humid environment. It was full of heat and moisture, so it was said 'Sauna Dome'. When the roof was installed in 1999, the eco-friendly elements of natural ventilation were emphasized, but the reality was very different. The away team's trainers train their players and try to keep the air conditioned
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The Seibu club said it had been planning to operate a large-scale cooler from early July. However, there was an accident in which the ace was replaced early in the game due to the heat in late June. This is despite the fact that Seibu players, who are familiar with the Veruna Dome environment from other clubs, have home stadium advantages.
Nippon Ham coach Tsuyoshi Shinjo said in an interview after the game, `I hope Imai doesn't get traumatized today.' Shinjo has previously pointed out the problems of Veruna Dome.
Seibu allowed a 2-2 tie after Imai was replaced. He lost three runs in the eighth inning and suffered a 2-5 come-from-behind loss. He is in fourth place, 4.5 games behind Nippon Ham.
Reporter Min Chang-ki huelva@sportschosun.com
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
