Manager Yomiuri Sent Off After 51 Years Sorry For Players Apple loses by one point in two consecutive games to rival

Jul 03, 2025

The scene where director Abe Yomiuri was sent off while protesting the video reading result in the bottom of the 8th inning of the match against Hanshin on the 2nd. Yomiuri lost to rival Hanshin by one point for the second consecutive game. Photo capture = Sports Nippon Homepage

Hanshin Morishita is safe by rushing home when Oyama's infield hit after two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Initially, it was ruled out, but the decision was reversed after a video reading. Photo capture = Hanshin Tigers SNS

The Hanshin Tigers and the Yomiuri Giants, who are destined to become the most popular Japanese professional baseball team, have topped the Central League side by side over the past two years. Hanshin lifted the Japan Series trophy after winning the league in 2023. He beat Orix Buffaloes of the Pacific League based in the same Kansai region and 'Kansai Derby' to become Japan's best in 38 years. Last season, Yomiuri stretched wide. Under coach Abe Shinnosuke, he renewed the team's atmosphere and rose to first place. He lowered Hanshin to second place and washed away the humiliation of his fall in the B-Class (4th to 6th out of 6 teams) for the second consecutive year. However, the ending was disappointing. He failed to advance to the Japan Series due to the Yokohama BayStars, the third-ranked team in the league. It collapsed in vain in the final stage of the climax series.

Hanshin leads the race this year. As of the 2nd, Hanshin ranked first (42 wins, 2 draws and 31 losses) and Yomiuri (37 wins, 2 draws and 37 losses) ranked third. It has been solidified since the middle of the first half. Fujikawa Kyuji, a former closing legend, is excited from the first year of the head coach.

Hanshin is also far ahead of the opponent. He won ten games and lost four games against his rivals. In April, he swept three consecutive away games at Tokyo Dome, the heart of the Giants. It swept the weekend series from April 4-6. Shocked the Yomiuri. Yomiuri, who had been desperate, raised his pride by winning two (one loss) in three consecutive away games at Koshien from May 20th to 22nd.

After the Pacific League and Inter League (exchange) ended, the ranking competition began in earnest. Yomiuri, who struggled in the interleague, jumped up. He won all three consecutive games against Yokohama last weekend. a three-game winning streak. It was sluggish with 6 wins, 1 draw and 11 losses in the interleague, but it changed when the league resumed.

But Hanshin put the brakes on Yomiuri's rebound.

Yomiuri left-hander Inoue failed to win despite pitching seven scoreless innings against Hanshin on the 2nd. Photo capture = Sports Nippon Homepage

Hanshin's home ground Koshien Stadium on the 2nd. Pitchers from both teams pitched well. The 0-0 tight flow continued until the seventh inning. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Hanshin broke the balance. After two outs, Hanshin No. 3 Yuta Morishita and No. 4 Teruaki Sato got on base with consecutive walks. Kota Nakagawa, the second pitcher of the Yomiuri Giants, was shaken. Both players made it to the full count.

Yomiuri, who was on the first and second bases with two outs, changed the pitcher. Right-hander Eito Tanaka has been replaced. Hanshin No. 5 Yusuke Ohyama hit the first pitch thrown by Tanaka. The hitting hit Yomiuri shortstop Izuguchi Utah Glove and bounced toward second base. an infield hit. At this time, second baseman Morissita rushed home after passing third base. Yomiuri second baseman Yoshikawa Naomi quickly threw home. It was out due to timing. However, the throw became one-bound and was slightly skewed to the right. Morisita took a home plate to avoid catcher Takuya's tag. The referee declared himself out.

However, a reversal occurred in Hanshin's requested video reading. The decision was reversed to safe. After a while, manager Abe complained to the referee about the decision while replacing the pitcher. The referee ordered the exit immediately in accordance with the regulations. Japan, like the KBO League, does not tolerate protests against video reading.

Coach Abe was sent off for the first time in 219 games in his second year as head coach. It has been 51 years since manager Yomiuri was sent off during the game, and three times in his career,

Hanshin won the Yomiuri by one point for one or two consecutive days. He had an advantage with 10 wins and 4 losses against the Yomiuri Giants this season. Photo capture = Hanshin Tigers SNS

It's called jae. Abe was sent off only once when he was a player. It was a Hanshin Exhibition held at Tokyo Dome on July 11, 2014. The opponent must have been more nervous because he was Hanshin.

In an interview after the game, Abe said, `We shouldn't protest, but that happened without realizing it. I'm sorry to the players for not being able to lead the game to the end."

Morisita's rush home led to Hanshin's 1-0 victory. Following a 1-2 defeat the previous day, Yomiuri lost two consecutive games by one point. After three straight wins, two straight losses. The gap between Hanshin and Hanshin widened to 5.5 games.

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.