After being replaced by a runner, he lost the victory with a fielder's error, allowing two runs in 5.2 innings and failing to win 199 in total in 98 days

Aug 07, 2025

Yomiuri right-hander Tanaka started against Yakult on the 7th and scored two runs in 5.2 innings. With a 2-1 lead, he scored an additional point in the sixth inning to lose the victory. Photo capture =Miuri Giants SNS

He missed the '199th' victory in the U.S.-Japan career, but he threw back hope.

Yomiuri Giants right-hander Masahiro Tanaka (37) swallowed the disappointment with a fielder's error and a walk. He started the game against Yakult Swallows at Tokyo Dome on the 7th and allowed two runs (one earned) in five ⅔ innings. In the top of the sixth inning with a 2-1 lead, Murakami Munetaka, the leadoff hitter, was induced to hit an infield grounder. Second baseman Daichi Masuda missed the ball, which served as an excuse for additional runs.

With no outs and no outs, he handled two batters with a mistake and gave up his fourth walk of the day. With two outs and runners on the first and second bases, he turned over the mound to the bullpen. The number of pitches reached 104. The changed pitcher, Hiromasa Funabasama, hit a timely hit to left by Yakult No. 8 Yuhei Nakamura. 2-2. A run added and a win flew away. Tanaka said "I'm upset that I left the mound with a runner."

The content was better than the previous game. He finished the first inning with three batters. I caught three out-counts with six pitches. In the second inning, Murakami, the leadoff hitter, struck out swinging. Throwing a splitter that drops from the full count to the low course, pulled the bat out.

Tanaka, once the best pitcher in the Japanese professional baseball league, has mainly stayed in the second division this season. After going down to the second division after the match against Hiroshima on May 1, he took the mound against Yakult on the 7th, about 90 days later. Photo capture =Miuri Giants SNS

He handled eight consecutive hitters with two outs in the fourth inning with a 1-0 lead. He suddenly shook after hitting the centerline after two dead. He walked No. 3 Uchiyama Soma and No. 4 Murakami in a row. Both players played full-count matches. He allowed No. 5 Jose Osna to tie the game with two outs and runners on first and second bases. 1-1.

Tanaka took the opportunity to play for the first time in 98 days since the match against Hiroshima Carp on May 1. We cleared the pessimistic outlook and confirmed the possibility of entering the starting rotation in the future.

1-1 in the previous three games - 9.00 ERA. He became the winning pitcher in his first appearance against the Chunichi Dragons on April 3. He stopped the game with one run until the fifth inning and won. It was the 120th victory in Japanese baseball and the '198 wins' in the U.S.-Japan career.

He struggled with his first win. On April 17, he allowed six runs in two innings against the Yokohama BayStars and became a losing pitcher. He had seven hits and one walk against 14 batters. The fastball pitch has dropped significantly compared to its heyday. The breaking ball control was jagged. It was the same even though I took two weeks off.

After readjustment, he played against Hiroshima on May 1. He allowed three runs in three innings and was replaced. I had a hard hit in the first inning. He gave up three runs after five consecutive hits after two outs. He passed the bases-loaded crisis with one out and runners on first and second bases in the second inning and two outs in the third inning without allowing a run, but lost the trust of the bench. The walk brought the crisis on itself. Tanaka was sent to the second team after the game.

Tanaka wore a Yomiuri uniform last winter, leaving Rakuten behind. He failed to add a win in three games after his first appearance against Chunichi on April 3. Photo capture =Miuri Giants SNS

Tanaka won 119 games for the Rakuten Eagles, one for the Yomiuri Giants, and 78 for the New York Yankees of the U.S. Major League Baseball.

Yomiuri's rise was cut off from a three-game winning streak. Yakult No. 5 Osuna, who hit a tiebreaking hit in the fourth inning, hit a one-run home run in the eighth inning. The Yomiuri lineup was tied up with three hits.

Reporter Min Chang-ki huelva@sportschosun.com

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.