He’s hit 30 or more home runs in six straight years, but never 40 in a season.
Yomiuri Giants’ No. 4 hitter Kazuma Okamoto (27) hits his 40th home run of the season during the team’s game against the Junichi Dragons in Nagoya on Friday. With one out in the top of the fourth inning, he pulled a fastball slider (132 kilometers per hour) from Junichi right-hander Leia Nakachi and sent it just over the left field fence. The pitch was in the middle of the strike zone.
With a 1-0 lead, it kept the momentum going. Okamoto, starting in the No. 4 spot in left field instead of third base, went 1-for-4 with a walk, a hit, an RBI and a strikeout. Hayato Sakamoto, batting fifth and third, followed Okamoto with a home run to left in the top of the fourth.소닉카지노
Okamoto, the starting third baseman, can also play first base and left field. He played left field for Japan at the World Baseball Classic (WBC) in March, when he gave up third base to Yakult Swallows’ Munetaka Murakami, 23, and started at first base.
It was the first 40-homer game in either league this season. In the Pacific League, Hideto Asamura of the Rakuten Eagles and Gregory Polanco of the Chiba Lotte Marines are tied for first with 23.
He also broke his own record for most home runs in a season.
Okamoto leads the league in home runs with 11. Photo credit: Yomiuri Giants SNS
Okamoto hit his 39th home run of the season the previous day (Nov. 14) against the visiting Hanshin Tigers at Koshien Stadium. He took a fastball (147 kilometers per hour) from opposing right-hander Hiroto Saiki for his 39th home run of the season.
Sakamoto, who joined Yomiuri as the No. 1 draft pick, has been a full-time starter since his fourth year in the organization. Since 2018, he has hit 30 or more home runs in six straight years. His 39 in 2021 was his most in a single season. He tied Muramaki for the Central League lead in home runs that year.
The 39 surpassed former Yomiuri manager Shigeo “Mr. Baseball” Nagashima’s record for most in a season. “I’m glad I went to the stands,” Okada said.
The Yomiuri right-hander is the second 40-homer hitter in 2019, joining Sakamoto.
Okamoto is on pace for his third home run title. He extended his lead over Murakami to 11 with three in his last four games.
Okamoto hits his first 40-homer game in both leagues against Chunichi on Friday. Photo credit: Yomiuri Giants SNS
Okamoto, Sakamoto, and Sho Nakata hit four home runs as Yomiuri raced to a 7-0 lead. Starter Shohei Dogo pitched eight scoreless innings to earn his 11th win. Togo was unable to get the win after throwing 10 scoreless innings against Junichi on Aug. 8, as he was unable to get any offensive support.