楽(Raku)Report

vs. DeNA Baystars, Series Loss 2-1

Game 1 - 6/3

Rakuten dropped an exciting, back-and-forth series opener against the Baystars during a steady downpour that likely would have resulted in a rainout if this wasn't an interleague series. The game was delayed an hour before it started and Miguel Yajure struggled through 4⅔ innings surrendering 6 hits, 4 walks, and 3 runs with only 1 strikeout. The Eagles put up 3 runs offensively, but were ultimately bested by the Baystars Katsuki Azuma who pitched 7 innings of 2 run baseball. It was a fun game to watch, but a tough series opening loss for Rakuten.

Game 2 - 6/4

Things were going so smoothly until the 9th inning. Seiryu Uchi pitched 6 scoreless inning with 3 strikeouts, Yoshiaki Watanabe went 4/4 with a 2-run double in the 1st, and Yuya Ogoh hit a solo home run in the 2nd (his 1st of the season). Takahiro Norimoto and Sora Suzuki pitched one scoreless inning each to setup Shoma Fujihira to close things out. Fujihira walked the first two batters he faced and then gave up a hit to load the bases. Two strikeouts and another walk prompted manager Hajime Miki to bring in Ren Kajiya to face Tyler Austin who struck out to end the game and allow the home fans a chance to breath comfortably again. Rakuten has now evened up the series and will call on started Ryota Takinaka in the rubber match tomorrow. Side note, Oscar Gonzalez started in his first ni-gun farm game today and went 0-3.

Game 3 - 6/5

The Eagles drop their second game of the Tohoku Series, this time in Koriyama, Fukushima Prefecture. So far they are scoreless in their two Tohoku Series games. Can't imagine the team's performances in these games is going to win them a lot of new fans in the region.

Notes

(6/5/25) De-registered: P #19 Kosei Shoji 荘司 康誠

(6/3/25) Rakuten acquire former big-leaguer Luke Voit ルーク・ボイト, who has spent the last 2 seasons in the Mexican League.

Box Score Source: NPB English

⅓ ⅔