Latest news with #SeibuLions
Japan Times
23-07-2025
- Climate
- Japan Times
Baseball teams trying to fight off Japan's torrid summer heat
Japanese professional baseball teams are working on ways to protect their players and fans from the country's sweltering summer heat. On June 27, Tatsuya Imai, an ace pitcher for the Saitama Seibu Lions in the Nippon Professional Baseball Organization's Pacific League, was replaced after suffering heatstroke while pitching at a game held at the team's Belluna Dome stadium in the city of Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture, against the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. The stadium, which has a roof but no outer walls, lacks an air-conditioning system that covers all corners of the facility. "We are taking the heat seriously as a challenge," an official said. Starting this month, large mist sprayers have been installed near spectator seats. For players, new commercial freezers equipped with ice packs have been set up under the dugout. The Hiroshima Toyo Carp, based in the western city of Hiroshima, are taking measures to cope with the heat during pregame practice sessions. To reduce players' exposure to the sweltering heat, the Central League team organizes batting practices for its reserve players early in the day and holds the batting portion of its full-team practice indoors. Team coach Akihito Fujii said, "We are trying to avoid players being overexposed to the sun." Many professional baseball teams, including the Carp and the Hanshin Tigers, another Central League team, have started to allow players to wear shorts during training. Most Tigers players have adopted shorts as part of their training gear this month, with Teruaki Sato saying, "I feel more comfortable." Many teams are also working on heat acclimation efforts. This season, the Yokohama DeNA BayStars held its batting practices outside for a week around June to help its players get used to the heat. A team trainer said, "We hope that players will be able to enhance their performance even in hotter weather." Some players of the Chunichi Dragons, based at Vantelin Dome Nagoya in the central city of Nagoya, have conducted running training outside to prepare for games played as the visiting team in open-air stadiums. Pitcher Takahiro Matsuba holds practice sessions about twice a week at an outdoor stadium. Players are also taking their own precautionary measures, with Jon Duplantier of the Tigers eating umeboshi pickled plums to replenish sodium.
The Mainichi
28-06-2025
- Sport
- The Mainichi
Baseball: Chusei Mannami's 2-RBI double gives Fighters win over Lions
TOKOROZAWA, Saitama (Kyodo) -- Chusei Mannami hit a go-ahead, two-RBI double to give the Pacific League-leading Nippon Ham Fighters a 5-2 comeback win against the Seibu Lions as intraleague play resumed Friday. Mannami broke a 2-2 deadlock with one out and the bases loaded in the top of the eighth inning at Belluna Dome, driving his first pitch from right-hander Hiroshi Kaino (2-3) to right field. Nippon Ham starter Hiromi Ito (8-4) threw eight impressive innings, finishing with 12 strikeouts after allowing two early runs. The Fighters tied the game with two runs in the fourth, including a home run from catcher-cum-outfielder Yua Tamiya, who started in left field. Nippon Ham manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo credited his team's youthful vigor for its track record of winning close games this season against tough opponents. "We have a slight advantage because we are young," he said. "It's a matter of physical strength.
Associated Press
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Dietrich Enns returns to MLB after 1,371 days to pitch 5 scoreless innings in start for Tigers
DETROIT (AP) — Dietrich Enns probably won't have to wait another 1,371 days for another chance to pitch in the major leagues. Enns threw five scoreless innings while allowing only one single and two walks in a start for Detroit on Thursday in the Tigers' 8-0 win over the Athletics. It was the 34-year-old left-hander's first big league game since Sept. 24, 2021. 'He's earned the right to pitch again in some capacity,' Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. 'We're looking forward to getting him out there after we get him his normal rest and see if it's going to be in the bullpen. Is he going to be starting, I don't know. But it's going to be in the big leagues.' After pitching the past three years in Japan and Korea, Enns went to spring training this year with the Tigers on a minor league deal. The former Central Michigan University pitcher got called up from Triple-A Toledo for his Detroit debut in the series finale against the Athletics. 'That was always the goal, to get back,' Enns said. 'Use those stops along the way, wherever I was, to hone the craft and get better and try and be as good as I can when I'm at the major league level.' Enns' last big league appearance had been two innings in relief for Tampa Bay against Miami at the end of the 2021 season. He was with the Seibu Lions in Japan from 2022-23 before going 13-6 last year for the LG Twins in South Korea. The Athletics were retired 1-2-3 on eight pitches in the first inning. Enns struck out four while throwing 55 of 77 pitches for strikes to the 17 batters he faced. 'That was incredible. I mean, good for him and obviously good for our team and good for the organization. A lot of people contributed to this moment,' Hinch said. 'Dietrich came in and stayed under control and stayed within himself from all the excitement and the return after a thousand days or whatever it's been. Delivered a great performance at a time when we needed it. So hats off to him and everyone around him that helped get him to this moment.' Enns made only his second start in 12 big league games. He has a 3-0 record, the first two wins coming in relief against the Tigers when he was pitching for Tampa Bay in 2021. He pitched in two games, with one start, for Minnesota in 2017. 'Did exactly what he needed to do. ... Stuck to the plan and got a lot of quick outs,' catcher Jake Rogers said. 'He did a really good job of just being in zone with all of his pitches, and giving me the reins of kind of going a lot of different ways. He kept them off balance.' ___ AP MLB:
The Mainichi
23-06-2025
- Sport
- The Mainichi
Baseball: Seibu signs Nevin to 2-year contract extension
TOKYO (Kyodo) --The Seibu Lions and first baseman-outfielder Tyler Nevin have agreed on a two-year contract extension that will run through the 2027 season, the club said Monday. In his first season in Japan, the 28-year-old former major leaguer has driven in 32 runs, tied for second in the Pacific League, while batting .269 with five home runs in 68 games. Nevin joined Seibu on a one-year contract in the offseason. He won the PL Player of the Month award for his performance in May. "We want him to play a central role for the Lions for a long time," senior Lions official Koji Hiroike said in a statement. The son of former Los Angeles Angels manager Phil Nevin played for the Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers and Oakland Athletics between 2021 and 2024.
The Mainichi
06-05-2025
- Sport
- The Mainichi
Baseball: Resurgent Hawks win 5th straight with rout of Lions
TOKOROZAWA, Japan (Kyodo) -- Tatsuru Yanagimachi went 3-for-5 with five RBIs to back a dominant pitching performance by Livan Moinelo as the SoftBank Hawks beat the Seibu Lions 10-0 for their fifth straight victory Tuesday. Yanagimachi singled in the opening run in a four-run first inning. The 28-year-old outfielder also drove in two runs each in the fourth and fifth at Belluna Dome. Moinelo (3-0) allowed only one baserunner, a fourth-inning infield single by Natsuo Takizawa, over seven innings. The Cuban left-hander struck out six in an 84-pitch effort. Isami Nomura, filling SoftBank's leadoff spot in place of an injured Ukyo Shuto, had four hits and scored three times. Taiga Ueda (0-1) gave up 10 runs on 12 hits in five innings. The Seibu offense was limited to two hits. In other action, Kotaro Kiyomiya and Chusei Mannami homered and drove in five runs between them as the Nippon Ham Fighters beat the Pacific League-leading Orix Buffaloes 7-3. In the Central League, the DeNA BayStars blanked the Chunichi Dragons 3-0.
