Masahiro Tanaka (Rakuten), who is recording 195 wins in the US and Japan, was beaten again. Japanese media reported that Tanaka's 200th victory in the US and Japan this season is not hopeful. Tanaka took the mound as a starting pitcher in a game against the Nippon Ham Fighters held at Rakuten Mobile Park in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan on the 27th, and was sluggish with 8 hits, 3 walks and 7 runs in 4⅔ innings.
On this day, he allowed more than 7 runs for the 4th time this season. Rakuten couldn't overcome the early run and was defeated 5-9, and Tanaka became the losing pitcher. Rakuten scored the first run in the bottom of the first inning with a solo home run by Hiroto Kobukata. However, Tanaka allowed a turnaround in the second inning. After one out, Martinez got a right-handed hit and Hanson walked. In the 1st and 2nd base crisis, Gunji Yuya hit with 2 RBIs and a double. reversed 1-2.
In the 3rd inning, he blocked it with a tripartite offense, and in the 4th inning, Martinez was sent out on a walk after one shot. With two outs due to a failed steal from second base, Hanson got a right-handed hit, but finished the inning with a grounder from second baseman. 안전놀이터 In the bottom of the 4th inning, foreign hitter Franco reached base with a double from the right, and Rakuten scored with a ground ball and a sacrifice fly. The score was tied at 2-2.
However, Tanaka was hit 5 times and allowed a lot of runs. He was hit with a heavy hit and a double from the right by No. 8-9 in the lower batting order, and was driven to the second and third bases safely. Top hitter Kosuke Kato got one out by striking out, and Go Matsumoto got two outs with a ground ball from second baseman, allowing a runner on third base to score. We were again led 2-3.
After that, he was battered at 2nd and 3rd base. He was hit by a mid-month triple by Kotaro Kiyomiya and conceded an extra run. He was hit by a double from the left by Mannami Tsui-hui and conceded another run. Martinez allowed a 6th run with a heavy hit. In the end, he was knocked out in the 2nd and 1st base, trailing 2-6. The relief pitcher hit consecutive hits and allowed the runner on first base left by Tanaka to score, increasing Tanaka's run to 7 runs. With this loss, Tanaka is recording an average ERA of 4.92 with 5 wins and 6 losses in 15 games. His ERA, which soared close to 5 points, is the lowest among 54 pitchers who pitched in at least 10 starts in both leagues.
The Japanese media said, "Can Tanaka achieve 200 wins in Japan and the United States this year? If the starting rotation continues in the remaining games, there is a chance to start in 8 or 9 games. If you add 5 wins, you can achieve a great record." Tanaka has been on a one-win pace this season since winning the opening match against Nippon Ham on March 30. There has never been a winning streak, and he has been alternating wins and losses since the match against Orix on May 23. If the pace is the same for the remaining three months, It's impossible," he said.
Tanaka, who returned to Rakuten in 2021 after playing for the New York Yankees from 2014 to 2020, received the highest annual salary of 900 million yen (about 8.2 billion won) in Japanese professional baseball for two consecutive years. He recorded an average ERA of 3.01 with 4 wins and 9 losses in 23 games in 2021, and was sluggish last year with 9 wins and 12 losses and an average ERA of 3.31 in 25 games. His salary this season has been drastically cut. He signed a contract for 475 million yen (approximately 4.3 billion won), a cut of 425 million yen (approximately 3.9 billion won). Another big pay cut is expected after this season.