In a historic first, the Central League’s offensive display of 9 runs in a single inning leads to a resounding victory, with MVP awarded to Shogo Maki for hitting home runs in consecutive at-bats
On July 23, the first game of the “Mynavi All-Star Game 2024” was held at Escon Field HOKKAIDO, in its second year of operation.
Before the game, a home run derby took place where Kazuma Okamoto (Giants) faced Nakama Watanabe (Nippon Ham), and Shogo Maki (DeNA) took on Katsuya Kondo (SoftBank) in the first round. After Okamoto and Kondo advanced, the semifinals ended in a tie with both hitting six home runs, leading to a one-minute tiebreaker. In the tiebreaker, Okamoto hit four home runs, but Kondo also matched him with four as he sent the final swing into the stands. Kondo secured his spot in the finals by defeating Okamoto.
In the game, the Pacific League excited the crowd with impressive starting players. Starting pitcher Fukuya Yamazaki took the “DH” position, alongside six other players from Nippon Ham, which calls Escon Field its home. Additionally, Katsuya Kondo occupied the third spot in left field, and Okai Omi (Lotte) batted ninth at first base. The lineup prominently featured former Nippon Ham players, creating a strong “Nippon Ham presence”. Furthermore, Yamazaki wore a notable red and black collar uniform, reminiscent of the historic Nippon Ham jerseys, enhancing the festive atmosphere.
In the first inning, Fukuya Yamazaki achieved an excellent start by striking out two batters. In the bottom half, he stepped up to bat and returned a high fastball from Hiroto Saiiki (Hanshin) for a hit to left field. He celebrated with a triumphant pose showcasing his “two-way” abilities. However, in the second inning, the Central League’s batting lineup attacked Yamazaki fiercely. After scoring four runs with three timely hits, Yoshiaki Maru (Giants) hit a two-run homer, followed by Maki with a solo home run, and Munetaka Murakami (Yakult) with another two-run shot. Maru expressed his surprise, stating, “I was just hoping to hit a home run, and I can’t believe I did! I’m super happy,” while Maki joyful shared, “I think the pitch was a changeup? Hitting felt amazing!” Murakami, in his fourth appearance at the All-Star Game, remarked, “It was really special. I’m happy I could perform in front of so many fans.”
With this inning, the Central League launched a relentless attack with a record of 9 runs in a single inning, the most in All-Star history. Additionally, Yamazaki’s 9 runs allowed also became the worst record in All-Star history, tying the combined record of 9 runs allowed in a game set by Masaru Takeda (Nippon Ham) in 2011. Yamazaki chuckled, saying, “It’s pretty bitter, isn’t it? I’m not sure if it was good or bad to be an All-Star, but they had an amazing lineup.”
Determined to show their pride, the Pacific League struck back in the second inning with a solo home run by Okamoto to right field. “I hit a fastball. I’m just so happy! I’m glad to hit one in this kind of stage,” he said, giving back to his former home ground. However, the Central League’s onslaught did not let up. In the fourth inning, leading off, Maki connected on a knuckle curve from Espinoza (Orix) and marked his second consecutive home run deep into left-center field.
The third inning featured unique pitching strategies typical of the All-Star Game. With two outs, Iori Yamazaki (Giants) faced Watanabe, throwing three consecutive super slow curves in the 70 km/h range. Watanabe responded with a full swing that sent his helmet flying, but it resulted in a foul ball. The second pitch was a ball, but on the third pitch, he hit a solid shot to left-center and seemed to be confidently headed for a home run. However, it barely missed the stands and hit the fence instead. He scrambled to second base, and both Yamazaki and Watanabe shared a smile.
The Pacific League scored their second run in the sixth inning with two outs on a timely hit from substitute Yu Kyoko Shuto (SoftBank) with a left-field single. In the eighth, after three consecutive hits from Ryoji Kuribayashi (Hiroshima), they found themselves with no outs and bases loaded. Shuto’s grounder to third added another run, and with one out and runners on first and third, Hotaka Yamakawa (SoftBank) hit a three-run homer that landed in the middle section of the left field’s second tier. Yamakawa rounded the diamond and performed the “Dosukoi Performance” with his teammates in front of the bench.
In the ninth inning, with one out and one on base, Hiroki Yokota (Hiroshima) stepped up to hit. A pitcher known for his batting skills, Yokota beautifully sent a 155 km/h fastball from Masaki Tanaka (Nippon Ham) to right field. In the bottom half, the entire Central League turned to Yu Iwasaki (Hanshin) on the mound. The Tigers’ closer swiftly retired the Pacific League in order, leading the Central League to an 11-6 victory, breaking a five-game losing streak in the All-Star Game.
The MVP award went to Maki, who hit two home runs in consecutive at-bats. “Since I was able to hit two, I thought maybe I had a chance for MVP,” Maki stated. The Fighting Spirit awards were given to Murakami, Maru, and Yamakawa, with Murakami also receiving the Mynavi Dream Award. The first game was a display of the Central League’s fierce batting in this dream All-Star game. The second game of the “Mynavi All-Star Game 2024” will be held on July 24 at Jingu Stadium: will the Central League continue their winning streak or will the Pacific League show their pride?