A batting average of 0.063 → 3 consecutive wins in autumn baseball against Yomiuri
Oct 17, 2024
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May's tsutsugi was scary. On May 6, he made his first appearance in the game against Yakult Swallows as a 6-left fielder, and hit a three-run home run in the come-from-behind final. Five days later, he hit another come-from-behind final home run against the Hanshin Tigers. In May, he played in 19 games and hit '17 hits-4 home runs' Yokohama fans were thrilled to see the returning fixer.
The matchmaker didn't last long. It was difficult to hit normally due to left flank pain. He was excluded from the team's strength as the slump continued. He played 37 games between May and June, but only played 2 games in July, 8 games in August, 7 games in September, and 4 games in October. Since July, he has mainly been a pinch hitter.
He hit 28 times at bat in 249 with a batting average of 188, seven home runs-23 RBIs, and an OPS of 0.683-a-scoring batting average of 209. This is Tsutsugo's record in 57 games.
He didn't show anything as a substitute. 1 for 16 with a batting average of 63.
On the 12th, he hit a grounder to shortstop as a pinch hitter in Game 1 of the Central League Climax Series First Stage against the Hanshin Tigers. He hit a double play in the eighth inning with one out and one on the first base. He had no chance to play in the second game on the 13th.
Game 1 of the final stage against the Yomiuri Giants at Tokyo Dome on the 16th. Coach Daisuke Miura called Tsutsugo in the seventh inning with one out and runners on the first and third bases. No. 9-Pitcher Anthony Kay pinch hit Tsutsugo. Then the Yomiuri bench moved. He replaced right-hander Shosei Dogo with left-hander Yuhei Takanashi.
One shot could bring the flow completely. He technically pushed a slider that fell to the low course with a ball count of 2B2S.5. The ball flew between shortstop and third baseman and in front of left field. It was a decisive blow that led to a 2-0 victory.
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Tsutsugo re-emerged.
Autumn is hot in Yokohama, the third place. Yokohama advanced to the final stage by beating second-place Hanshin with two consecutive wins in the first stage. He grabbed his first game of the final stage with No. 1 Yomiuri and won three consecutive games. Yokohama also started third in 2017 and has advanced to the Japan Series by beating Hanshin and Hiroshima Carp in turn.
It has been eight years since 2016 that Tsutsugo played in the Climax Series at Tokyo Dome. Tsutsugo was Yokohama's captain at the time, and Miura was in his last season. Miura reportedly called Tsutsugo in the U.S. in March to persuade him to return to Japan.
Tsutsugo played four times in 14 Climax Series games and recorded 10 hits in 33 at-bats and a batting average of .330. It's a record before flying to the United States.
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huelva@sportschosun.com
