Practice Game: Seibu vs Softbank, February 28

• Softbank 3 - Seibu 1
• Isamu Sato started the game for Seibu. He gave up two runs on three hits over four innings of work. He struck out Yuki Yanagita twice. He surrendered a two-run home run to Tomoaki Egawa in the fourth. He threw sixty-nine pitches.
• Tsuyoshi Wada started and pitched three shutout innings. He faced nine hitters, allowed one hit (two out single to left to Daichi Mizuguchi in the third inning), recorded one pick-off, and threw twenty-five pitches. He pitched an extra inning because he was still at nineteen pitches after two innings. He topped out at 144km/h.
• Shota Takeda relieved Wada. He gave up a run on three hits in three innings of work.
• Yuki Yanagita was the starting designated hitter for Softbank and batted third. He hit a triple to left-center off Chen-Chang Lee in the fifth.

Source: Sports Hochi 2/28/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/28/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/28/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/29/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/29/2016, Sponichi 2/28/2016, Sponichi 2/29/2016, Sanspo 2/29/2016

Practice Game: Nippon Ham vs Hiroshima, February 28

• Hiroshima 6 - Nippon Ham 1
• Nippon Ham: Dai-Kang Yoh (CF), Haruki Nishikawa (LF), Brandon Laird (3B), Sho Nakata (1B), Shohei Otani (DH), Shingo Ishikawa (RF), Toshitake Yokoo (2B), Shota Ono (C), Takuya Nakashima (SS), Kohei Arihara (SP)
• Kohei Arihara gave up four runs on six hits over four innings.
• Shohei Otani went 1-for-4: G6, 1B8, F7, G4.
• Toshitake Yokoo recorded a hit and a walk.
• Hiroshima: Ryosuke Kikuchi (2B), Kosuke Tanaka (SS), Yoshihiro Maru (CF), Hector Luna (3B), Brad Eldred (LF), Jason Pridie (DH), Takahiro Arai (1B), Sohichiro Amaya (RF), Tsubasa Aizawa (C), Kris Johnson (SP)
• Kris Johnson gave up a run through three plus innings. He pitched well in the first two innings, but started struggling with his control in the third.
• Jay Jackson entered the game in the fifth inning and pitched a perfect inning in relief (Ks, Ks, G5).
• Bradin Hagens entered the game in the sixth inning and did not allow a run or a hit in one inning of work.
• Yoshihiro Maru recorded two hits (singles to right in second and third at bats).
• The Carp recorded four straight hits to start the second inning: Hector Luna single to center, Brad Eldred single to center, Jason Pridie RBI single to right, Takahiro Arai RBI single to center. They scored a third run in the inning on a sac fly by Tsubasa Aizawa.

Source: Tokyo Sports 2/28/2016, Sports Hochi 2/28/2016, Chunichi Sports 2/28/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/28/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/29/2016, Daily Sports 2/28/2016, Daily Sports 2/28/2016, Daily Sports 2/29/2016, Sanspo 2/29/2016

Practice Game: Rakuten vs Orix, February 28

• Rakuten 5 - Orix 4
• Takahiro Norimoto entered the game in the fifth for Rakuten and tossed a perfect inning in relief (G3, Ks, G4). He threw nine pitches and topped out at 149km/h.
• Ginji got the start at first and batted second. He went 2-for-3: single to right in the first and single to center in the third.
• Jonny Gomes was the starting designated hitter and batted third. He went 0-for-2: foul out to third, strikeout swinging.
• Eigoro Mogi started at short and batted fifth. He went 1-for-2 with an RBI: with runners on first and second and two out in the first, he hit a timely single to right.
• Louis Okoye entered the game as a defensive replacement in center in the fourth inning. He went 0-for-1 at the plate.
• Yuki Nishi started the game for Orix. He gave up two runs over two innings. He was pulled after five full innings and inserted into a Ni-gun game against Yomiuri that was taking place at a neighboring stadium. Kohei Suzuki was called up from the Ni-gun game.
• Brent Morel was the starting designated hitter and batted third. He hit a home run off Takahiro Shiomi in the first inning. He struck out looking in the third.
• Koji Oshiro got the start at short and batted eighth. He struggled on defense: he could not glove two balls in the first and third and committed two errors (fielding, catching) in the fourth.

Source: Sports Hochi 2/28/2016, Sports Hochi 2/28/2016, Sports Hochi 2/29/2016, Sports Hochi 2/29/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/28/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/29/2016, Sponichi 2/28/2016, Sponichi 2/29/2016, Sponichi 2/29/2016, Daily Sports 2/29/2016, Daily Sports 2/29/2016

Practice Game: LG (KBO) vs Chunichi, February 28

• LG 10 - Chunichi 5
• Yudai Ono started the game and gave up four runs on nine hits over three innings.
• Shinnosuke Ogasawara entered the game in the seventh and pitched one inning in relief. He gave up a run (sac fly with the bases loaded and one out) on a hit (infield hit) and walked two (in a row). He topped out at 146km/h. Line: BB, BB, Fo5, 1B6, SF9, Fo2.
• Masataka Iryo started in left and batted second. He went 4-for-5. He was picked off first in the ninth.
• Masahiko Morino got the start at third. He hit a two-out, solo homerun to right in the third.

Source: Tokyo Sports 2/28/2016, Sports Hochi 2/28/2016, Sports Hochi 2/28/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/28/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/29/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/29/2016, Sponichi 2/29/2016

Practice Game: Yokohama vs Nexen (KBO), February 28

• Nexen 5 - Yokohama 2
• Kento Kumabara started the game and gave up two runs on six hits in four innings. He topped out at 148km/h.
• Jamie Romak started in right and batted fifth. He hit a solo home run in the sixth inning.
• Hyuma started at right and batted seventh. He went 4-for-4 with a double and an RBI.

Source: Sports Hochi 2/28/2016, Sponichi 2/28/2016, Sponichi 2/29/2016, Daily Sports 2/28/2016, Daily Sports 2/28/2016, Daily Sports 2/28/2016, Sanspo 2/28/2016

Practice Game: Lotte vs Doosan (KBO), February 28

• Lotte 5 - Doosan 2
• Ryota Sekiya started the game and gave up a run on two hits over four innings of work. The run he allowed scored on a wild pitch in the second inning. He struck out three and topped out at 143km/h. He walked a batter in the first inning, but erased the baserunner with a double play. He retired the side in order in the third and fourth innings.
• Jason Standridge pitched two innings in relief after Ryota Sekiya. He allowed two hits and no runs.
• Takahiro Fujioka pitched an inning in relief. He entered the game in the ninth and struck out three in a row (Kl, Kl, Ks).
• Daichi Suzuki hit a two-run home run in the second inning.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/28/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/28/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/28/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/28/2016, Sports Hochi 2/29/2016

Intra-squad Game: Hanshin, February 28

• Reds 7 - Whites 3
• Reds: Yamato (2B), Yutaro Itayama (RF), Takashi Toritani (SS), Mauro Gomez (1B), Ryota Imanari (3B), Shun Takayama (LF), Shinji Komiyama (C), Fumihito Haraguchi (DH), Masahiro Nakatani (CF), Takumi Akiyama (SP)
• Takumi Akiyama started the game and allowed two run on seven hits over four innings.
• Rafael Dolis pitched two innings in relief and gave up a run on one hit.
• Yutaro Itayama recorded a triple to right-center off Kazuhito Futagami in the fifth inning.
• Takashi Toritani (two-run) and Mauro Gomez (solo) went back-to-back in the fifth inning.
• Shun Takayama hit an inside-the-park three-run home run off Kazuhito Futagami in the sixth inning.
• Whites: Hiroki Uemoto (2B), Fumiya Hojo (SS), Tsuyoshi Nishioka (DH), Shintaro Yokota (LF), Naomasa Yokowa (3B), Taiga Egoshi (CF), Fumiya Araki (1B), Ryosuke Ogata (RF), Taichi Okazaki (C), Shintaro Fujinami (SP)
• Shintaro Fujinami did not allow a run or a hit over four innings of work. He struck out one and topped out at 154km/h. He faced twelve hitters and threw forty-two pitches.
• Kazuhito Futagami gave up seven runs (four earned) on seven hits (including three home runs) over two innings of work.
• Naomasa Yokowa led off the second inning with a home run to center off Takumi Akiyama.

Source: Sports Hochi 2/28/2016, Chunichi Sports 2/28/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/28/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/28/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/28/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/28/2016, Sponichi 2/28/2016, Sanspo 2/29/2016, Sanspo 2/29/2016, Sanspo 2/29/2016, Daily Sports 2/29/2016

Ni-gun Practice Game: Orix vs Yomiuri, February 28

• Yomiuri 6 - Orix 1
• Kentaro Taira started the game for Yomiuri. He gave up six hits over three shutout innings.
• Yasuhiro Yamamoto got the start at short and batted lead-off. He went 2-for-3: double to center in the first and single to right in the sixth.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/28/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/28/2016

Batting Practice Scrimmage (Indoors): Softbank Hawks, February 28

• Daisuke Matsuzaka faced nine hitters (combination of Kentaro Enomoto and Ryuma Kidokoro) and gave up two hits and walked three. He threw forty-two pitches and struck out two.

Source: Chunichi Sports 2/28/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/28/2016, Sponichi 2/29/2016

Batting Practice Scrimmage: Hanshin Tigers, February 28

• Koyo Aoyagi faced eight batters. He did not allow any hits, but did walk two.
• Yuya Ando faced seven hitters. He did not allow any hits, but did walk to.

Source: Sanspo 2/29/2016, Sanspo 2/29/2016

Practice Game: Samsung (KBO) vs Hanshin, February 27

• Hanshin 2 - Samsung 0
• Starting line-up: Hiroki Uemoto (2B), Fumiya Hojo (SS), Taiga Egoshi (CF), Mauro Gomez (DH), Shun Takayama (LF), Ryota Arai (1B), Shintaro Yokota (RF), Naomasa Yokawa (3B), Taichi Okazaki (C), Kyuji Fujikawa (SP)
• Kyuji Fujikawa started the game. He did not allow a run or hit over two innings of work. Of the six outs he recorded, five were on outfield fly outs. He faced seven, threw thirty-eight pitches, walked one, struck out one, and topped out at 144km/h.
• Randy Messenger relieved Fujikawa and tossed two perfect innings. He faced six hitters, struck out three (two looking), and topped out at 151km/h.
• Naoto Tsuru pitched an inning in relief. He gave up one hit and struck out two.
• Marcos Mateo pitched an inning in relief in the sixth. He tossed a perfect inning (Ks, G6, Kl), threw nine pitches, and struck out two.
• Daiki Enokida entered the game in the seventh and did not allow a run or a hit in an inning of work. He struck out two.
• Shun Takayama went 0-for-3.
• Shintaro Yokota went 1-for-3: single to left, ground out to short, strike out swinging.
• Naomasa Yokawa hit a two-run home run in the second inning (runner on second, two out).

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/27/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/27/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/27/2016, Sports Hochi 2/27/2016, Sports Hochi 2/27/2016, Sports Hochi 2/27/2016, Sports Hochi 2/27/2016, Daily Sports 2/27/2016, Daily Sports 2/27/2016, Daily Sports 2/27/2016, Daily Sports 2/28/2016, Daily Sports 2/28/2016, Sponichi 2/27/2016, Sponichi 2/28/2016, Sanspo 2/28/2016, Sanspo 2/28/2016

Practice Game: Lotte vs Softbank, February 27

• Softbank 8 - Lotte 3
• Takuya Furuya started the game for Lotte and gave up three runs on five hits over three innings of work. He retired the side in order in the first and surrendered a solo home run to Seiichi Uchikawa in the second. He gave up two more runs in the third on three hits.
• Yuta Omine entered the game in the fourth inning and did not allow any runs over two innings of work.
• Kuan-Yu Chen followed Omine and gave up five runs in two innings.
• Ikuhiro Kiyota started in right and batted third. He went 1-for-3: single to left off Tadashi Settsu.
• Shunichi Nemoto recorded a two-run single to right in the first inning.
• Tadashi Settsu started the game and allowed three runs over three innings of work.
• Nineteen different hitters made it into the game. Eleven recorded hits.
• Seiichi Uchikawa got the start at first and batted fourth. He went 2-for-2 with two RBI: home run to left off Takuya Furuya in the second inning and RBI single to right in the third inning.
• Yuya Hasegawa entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning and recorded a two-run single to center off Kuan-Yu Chen.
• Barbaro Canizares hit a three-run home run in the seventh inning.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/27/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/27/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/27/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/27/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/27/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/27/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/28/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/28/2016, Sports Hochi 2/27/2016, Daily Sports 2/27/2016, Sponichi 2/27/2016

Practice Game: Hiroshima vs Nippon Ham, February 27

• Hiroshima 2 - Nippon Ham 1
• Hiroshima starting line-up: Kosuke Tanaka (SS), Ryosuke Kikuchi (2B), Yoshihiro Maru (CF), Shota Dobayashi (3B), Ryuhei Matsuyama (DH), Tetsuya Kokubo (1B), Shohei Habu (LF), Yoshitaka Isomura (C), Takayoshi Noma (RF), Yuya Fukui (SP)
• Yuya Fukui started the game. He tossed three perfect innings and threw forty-two pitches.
• Takayoshi Noma recorded an RBI single to right in the fifth inning.
• Nippon Ham starting line-up: Dai-Kang Yoh (CF), Haruki Nishikawa (RF), Kensuke Tanaka (2B), Sho Nakata (1B), Shohei Otani (DH), Brandon Laird (3B), Yuya Taniguchi (LF), Ryo Ishikawa (C), Takuya Nakashima (SS), Luis Mendoza (SP)
• Luis Mendoza started the game. He gave up one hit and needed just twenty-two pitches to get through three shutout innings.
• Yohei Kagiya relieved Mendoza and did not allow a run or hit over an inning of work. He did issue a two-out walk.
• Takayuki Kato pitched an inning in relief. He retired the side in order.
• Kazutomo Iguchi entered the game in the seventh and tossed a perfect inning in relief.
• Shohei Otani went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.

Source: Sports Hochi 2/27/2016, Sports Hochi 2/27/2016, Sports Hochi 2/27/2016, Sports Hochi 2/27/2016, Sports Hochi 2/27/2016, Sports Hochi 2/27/2016, Sports Hochi 2/27/2016, Daily Sports 2/27/2016, Daily Sports 2/28/2016, Daily Sports 2/28/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/27/2016

Practice Game: Yokohama vs Chunichi, February 27

• Chunichi 4 - Yokohama 4
• Daisuke Yamai started the game for Chunichi and gave up one hit in three shutout innings.
• Dayan Viciedo started at first and batted clean-up. He recorded a solo home run to left off Zach Petrick in the fourth and an RBI single to left off Daisuke Miura in the fifth.
• Zach Petrick started the game for Yokohama. He gave up three runs in four innings -- he held Chunichi to two hits in the first three innings, then gave up three runs in the fourth (three hits, including a home run, a walk, and a balk).
• Daisuke Miura relived Petrick. He gave up a run on two hits over one inning of work. He threw sixteen pitches and topped out at 131km/h.
• Kazuki Mishima entered the game in the sixth inning and pitched four perfect innings.
• Koki Yamashita started at second and batted seventh. He went 3-for-3 with one RBI. He recorded an RBI triple to right-center in the fifth.
• Tatsuhiro Shibata got the start at short and batted ninth. He went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a stolen base.

Source: Daily Sports 2/27/2016, Daily Sports 2/27/2016, Daily Sports 2/27/2016, Daily Sports 2/27/2016, Daily Sports 2/28/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/27/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/27/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/27/2016, Sports Hochi 2/27/2016, Sanspo 2/27/2016, Sanspo 2/27/2016, Sanspo 2/28/2016, Sponichi 2/28/2016

Practice Game: Orix vs Seibu, February 27

• Orix 2 - Seibu 1
• Taisuke Kondo pitched in relief for Orix. He entered the game in the sixth and did not allow any runs over two innings of work.
• Ken Akama pitched in relief for Orix. He entered the game in the eighth and tossed two shutout innings.
• Brent Morel was the starting designated hitter and batted fourth. He went 2-for-2: an RBI single to center in the first inning off Takayuki Kishi and a single to left off Tomomi Takahashi in the third.
• Takayuki Kishi started the game for Seibu and allowed two runs on four hits over two innings. He topped out at 146km/h.
• Tomomi Takahashi relieved Kishi and tossed a shutout inning in relief. He gave up one hit.
• Kona Takahashi entered the game in the fourth inning and tossed four shutout innings. He gave up three hits, walked three, and topped out at 147km/h.
• Tomoya Mori was the starting designated hitter and batted clean-up. He went 1-for-4: RBI single to center, line out to short, fly out to center, foul out to the catcher.
• Ginjiro Sumitani threw out two runners at second base: both in the fifth inning.

Source: Daily Sports 2/27/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/27/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/27/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/27/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/28/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/28/2016, Sponichi 2/27/2016, Sponichi 2/28/2016, Sponichi 2/28/2016, Sponichi 2/28/2016, Sanspo 2/27/2016, Sanspo 2/27/2016, Sanspo 2/28/2016, Daily Sports 2/28/2016

Practice Game: Doosan (KBO) vs Rakuten, February 27

• Rakuten 6 - Doosan 6
• Ryota Ishibashi entered the game in the fifth. He pitched one inning and recorded three outs with nine pitches.
• Ryota Yoshimochi started at short and batted second. He went 2-for-3 with two RBI. He recorded an RBI single to right in the seventh inning and walked in a run in the ninth.
• Louis Okoye entered the game as a defensive replacement in center in the sixth inning. He went 0-for-2 at the plate (he reached on a dropped third strike in the ninth inning).

Source: Sports Hochi 2/28/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/28/2016, Sponichi 2/28/2016, Sponichi 2/28/2016, Daily Sports 2/28/2016

Batting Practice Scrimmage: Hiroshima Carp, February 27

• Hiroki Kuroda faced eleven hitters, threw forty-five pitches, and allowed three hits. He struck out three and walked two.
• Takahiro Arai went 0-for-3 against Kuroda: L1, G5, G3.

Source: Daily Sports 2/27/2016, Sports Hochi 2/28/2016

Batting Practice Scrimmage: Chunichi Dragons, February 27

• Kazuki Yoshimi pitched three innings. He faced eleven hitters, threw thirty-two pitches, and gave up a run on three hits, including one home run.

Source: Sports Hochi 2/27/2016

Practice Game: Nippon Ham Fighters vs Hanshin Tigers, February 25

• Hanshin 7 - Nippon Ham 1
• Nippon Ham starting line-up: Kenshin Sugiya (RF), Haruki Nishikawa (LF), Dai-Kang Yoh (CF), Sho Nakata (1B), Toshitake Yokoo (3B), Shingo Ishikawa (DH), Ryo Watanabe (2B), Yushi Shimizu (C), Takuya Nakashima (SS), Hirotoshi Takanashi (SP)
• Hirotoshi Takanashi started the game and allowed one hit over four shutout innings. He struck out five and topped out at 149km/h.
• Kazutomo Iguchi pitched one inning in relief and retired the side in order (G6, F4, F8). He topped out at 147km/h.
• Sho Nakata hit a double to left off Minoru Iwata in the first inning.
• Toshitake Yokoo went 0-for-4. He was also picked off first in the sixth inning.
• Hanshin starting line-up: Tsuyoshi Nishioka (2B), Yamato (CF), Takashi Toritani (SS), Mauro Gomez (1B), Nelson Perez (LF), Naomasa Yokawa (3B), Shun Takayama (DH), Shintaro Yokota (RF), Shinji Komiyama (C), Minoru Iwata (SP)
• Minoru Iwata gave up a run on three hits over three innings of work. He surrendered a solo home run to Shingo Ishikawa in the second inning.
• Atsushi Nomi relieved Iwata. He tossed two shutout innings and gave up one hit. He struck out two and topped out at 144km/h.
• Rafael Dolis (sixth inning, five pitches, topped out at 151km/h) and Akifumi Takahashi (eighth inning, eight pitches, topped out at 141km/h) each tossed scoreless innings in relief.
• Tsuyoshi Nishioka went 1-for-3 with an RBI. He was replaced by pinch-runner Hiroki Uemoto after his RBI single to right in the fifth inning.
• Takashi Toritani recorded a single to center off Hirotoshi Takanashi in the first inning.
• Mauro Gomez went 0-for-2 with a walk.
• Shun Takayama was the starting designated hitter and batted seventh. He went 1-for-4: strikeout looking, fly out to left, fly out to left, infield single.
• Shintaro Yokota went 3-for-4 with two RBI: strikeout swinging in the third, double to left in the fifth, single to center in the seventh, two-run double to left-center in the ninth.
• Hiroki Uemoto entered the game as a pinch-runner for Tsuyoshi Nishioka in the fifth inning. He remained in the game as the second baseman. He hit a timely double to left-center in the seventh inning.
• Taiga Egoshi entered the game as a defensive replacement in the fifth inning. He flied out to second in the sixth and was replaced by a pinch-hitter in the eighth.
• Fumihito Haraguchi entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning. He went 1-for-2: single to left in the ninth.
• Naomasa Yokawa and Fumiya Hojo committed fielding errors (Yokawa in the third on a grounder to third and Hojo in the sixth on a grounder to short).

Source: Daily Sports 2/25/2016, Daily Sports 2/25/2016, Daily Sports 2/25/2016, Daily Sports 2/25/2016, Daily Sports 2/25/2016, Daily Sports 2/25/2016, Daily Sports 2/26/2016, Sponichi 2/25/2016, Sponichi 2/26/2016, Tokyo Sports 2/25/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/25/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/25/2016, Sports Hochi 2/26/2016, Sanspo 2/26/2016, Sanspo 2/26/2016, Sanspo 2/26/2016, Sanspo 2/26/2016, Sanspo 2/26/2016, Sanspo 2/26/2016, Sanspo 2/26/2016

Practice Game: Yokohama Bay Stars vs Hiroshima Carp, February 25

• Hiroshima 6 - Yokohama 1
• Kenta Ishida started the game for Yokohama. He gave up seven hits over four shutout innings.
• Guillermo Moscoso surrendered a run on two hits over two innings of work.
• Yota Kosugi (three runs, one inning), Tomoya Mikami (one run, one inning), and Yasuaki Yamasaki (one run, one inning) combined to give up five runs over the last three innings of the game.
• Yoshitomo Tsutsugo went 2-for-3: a single to right in the second inning and a single to center in the fourth inning.
• Hiroki Yokoyama started the game for Hiroshima. He allowed two hits over three shutouts innings. He threw thirty pitches and topped out at 144km/h.
• Akitake Okada pitched two innings in relief and gave up a run on three hits.
• Brad Eldred was the starting designated hitter and batted fifth. He hit a home run off Guillermo Moscoso in the sixth inning. It was his third home run in as many games (practice game against Yakult on February 20 and exhibition game against Yomiuri on February 21).
• Shota Dobayashi entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning. He hit a three-run home run off Yota Kosugi in the bottom-half of the inning.
• Yoshihiro Maru recorded two hits: single to center, single to left.

Source: Daily Sports 2/25/2016, Daily Sports 2/25/2016, Daily Sports 2/25/2016, Daily Sports 2/25/2016, Daily Sports 2/26/2016, Sports Hochi 2/25/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/25/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/25/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/25/2016, Sponichi 2/26/2016, Sanspo 2/26/2016

Practice Game: Softbank Hawks vs Rakuten Eagles, February 25

• Softbank 9 - Rakuten 2
• Kodai Senga started the game for Softbank. He did not allow a run in two innings of work. He gave up one hit, struck out three, and topped out at 152km/h.
• Seiichi Uchikawa started at first and batted fourth. He hit a double to right in his first at bat and lined out to second in his second at bat.
• Yoshinao Kamata started the game for Rakuten and gave up six runs on six hits over four innings of work.
• Manabu Mima relieved Kamata and pitched one inning and retired the side in order. He struck out two.
• Louis Okoye started in center and batted first. He flied out to right against Kodai Senga in the first inning, recorded a single to left off Yosuke Shimabukuro in the third inning (he later came around to score on a single to right by Eigoro Mogi), and flied out to center against Akira Niho in the fifth inning. He was replaced on defense in the sixth.
• Kenta Kurihara was the starting designated hitter and batted fourth. He went 2-for-4: single to right in the second and double to left in the eighth.
• Masayoshi Fukuda got the start in left and batted seventh. He reached base on a ground out to third in the fourth inning, then stole second.

Source: Daily Sports 2/25/2016, Sports Hochi 2/25/2016, Sports Hochi 2/26/2016, Sponichi 2/25/2016, Sponichi 2/25/2016, Sponichi 2/26/2016, Sponichi 2/26/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/25/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/25/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/25/2016

Practice Game: Chiba Lotte Marines vs Seibu Lions, February 25

• Lotte 6 - Seibu 4
• Ikuhiro Kiyota went 2-for-2 with an RBI: single to center in the first, walked in the third, RBI single to center in the fourth.
• Taiga Hirasawa entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the fifth inning and struck out swinging. He remained in the game as a shortstop. He walked in his second at bat. He committed a fielding error in the fifth.
• Yusei Kikuchi started the game and gave up six runs (four earned) on eight hits over four innings of work. He walked three, threw ninety-two pitches, and topped out at 153km/h (the stadium readings topped out at 146km/h).
• Yuji Kaneko started at second and batted second. He grounded out to short in the first and reached on a ground out to second in the third. He attempted to steal second, but failed. He left the game after the top of the fourth with tightness in his lower back.
• Shuta Tonosaki got the start at short and batted sixth. He went 1-for-3 (timely double to left in the fourth inning) with a stolen base (eighth inning).

Source: Sports Hochi 2/25/2016, Sponichi 2/25/2016, Sponichi 2/26/2016, Sponichi 2/26/2016, Sponichi 2/26/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/25/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/25/2016, Sanspo 2/25/2016, Sanspo 2/25/2016, Sanspo 2/25/2016

Practice Game: Orix Buffaloes vs Doosan (KBO), February 25

• Orix 5 - Doosan 1
• Chihiro Kaneko started the game and did not allow a run or a hit in two innings of work. One runner did reach base on an error. He threw twenty-eight pitches. This was his first February game since 2010.
• Brian Bogusevic got the start in center and batted third. He recorded two hits (a timely single to left in the first and a two-run home run in the fifth), three RBI, and a stolen base.
• Brent Morel was the starting designated hitter and batted clean-up. He went 2-for-2 with an RBI and a stolen base: RBI single to center in the first inning and a single to left in the third. He stole second in the first inning.

Source: Sponichi 2/25/2016, Sponichi 2/25/2016, Sponichi 2/26/2016, Sponichi 2/26/2016, Daily Sports 2/26/2016, Sanspo 2/26/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/26/2016

Ni-gun Practice Game: Yomiuri Giants vs Softbank Hawks

• Softbank 2 - Yomiuri 0
• Yuki Yanagita was the starting designated hitter and batted fourth. He went 0-for-4: strikeout against Hugo Kanabushi, fly out to third against Jun Hasegawa, ground out to second against Taichi Tanaka, and fly out to left against Keigo Tahara.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/25/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/26/2016

Batting Practice Scrimmage (simulated innings): Chunichi Dragons, February 25

• Shinnosuke Ogasawara gave up three runs on two could-be hits and two walks in the first inning (he surrendered a double to left to Kazuyuki Akasaka with the bases loaded and no out). He retired the side in order in the second inning. He faced ten hitters, threw thirty-seven pitches, and topped out at 142km/h.
• Hiroto Fuku tossed three shutout innings and allowed one could-be hit and walked one. He threw thirteen pitches and faced three hitters in the first inning. He threw nine pitches and faced three hitters in the third inning. He gave up a lead-off double to Masataka Iryo in the third inning.

Source: Sports Hochi 2/25/2016, Sports Hochi 2/25/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/25/2016, Sanspo 2/26/2016

Yomiuri Giants, Chunichi Dragons

• Practice game: Yomiuri against Chunichi, February 24
• Yomiuri 6 - Chunichi 1
• Drew Naylor started the game for Chunichi. He did not allow a run or hit over three innings and struck out five. He walked one and struck out the side in the third inning.
• Jordan Norberto followed Naylor. He gave up four runs over 2.2 innings of work. He retired the side in order in the fourth. He loaded the bases with one out in the fifth and gave up a two-run single to Seiji Kobayashi. He surrendered two more runs in the sixth and was removed before he could get out of the inning. He allowed four hits and walked three. He also committed a balk in the sixth.
• Yu Sato gave up two hits and a walk, but still threw up a zero in an inning of work. He struck out two looking and topped out at 151km/h.
• Issei Endo batted lead-off. He collected two hits and one RBI: infield single  and RBI single to center.
• Dayan Viciedo was the starting designated hitter and batted fourth. He went 0-for-2: fly out to first, ground out to second.
• Hayato Takagi started the game for Yomiuri. He gave up a run on three hits over three innings of work. The run came on two hits and a walk in the third inning.
• Seiji Tahara entered the game in the fifth and retired the side in order. He struck out two.
• Shinnosuke Shigenobu started in center field and batted second. He went 1-for-4 (single to left in the seventh) and a stolen base.
• Daisuke Nakai went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
• Taishi Ota hit a home run to left-center off Tatsuro Hamada in the seventh inning.

Source: Sports Hochi 2/24/2016, Sports Hochi 2/24/2016, Sports Hochi 2/24/2016, Daily Sports 2/24/2016, Daily Sports 2/24/2016, Daily Sports 2/25/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/24/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/24/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/25/2016, Sponichi 2/24/2016, Sponichi 2/25/2016, Sponichi 2/25/2016, Sponichi 2/25/2016, Sponichi 2/25/2016, Sanspo 2/24/2016, Sanspo 2/24/2016, Sanspo 2/25/2016, Sanspo 2/25/2016

Softbank Hawks

• Practice game against Doosan (KBO), February 24
• Softbank 3 - Doosan 2
• Robert Suarez pitched in the ninth. He gave up two hits and no runs. He threw nineteen pitches, of which fourteen were fastballs  and twelve were clock at 150km/h or higher. He topped out at 154km/h.
• Yuki Yanagita was the starting designated hitter and batted fourth. He went 0-for-2.
• Tomoaki Egawa started in center field and batted sixth. He went 2-for-2: a home run to left in the second inning and a single to left in the fifth inning.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/24/2016, Sanspo 2/24/2016, Sanspo 2/25/2016, Sponichi 2/25/2016, Sports Hochi 2/25/2016, Daily Sports 2/25/2016

Nippon Ham Fighters

• Practice game against KIA (KBO), February 24
• Nippon Ham 12 - KIA 2
• Shohei Otani started the game and gave up a hit in three shutout innings of work. He faced eleven hitters, threw fifty pitches, struck out five, and topped out at 153km/h. He gave up a lead-off double in the first and retired the side in order in the second and third innings.
• Anthony Bass relieved Otani and gave up a run on a hit over two innings. He struck out three and walked two. He allowed a run when he threw a wild pitch with the bases loaded in the fourth inning. He retired the side in order in the fifth. He topped out at 151km/h.
• Chris Martin entered the game in the sixth inning and did not allow a run or a hit in an inning of work. He needed just ten pitches.
• Sho Nakata batted fourth. He hit a two-run home run to left in the third inning.
• Toshitake Yokoo was the starting designated hitter and batted sixth. He recorded three hits, including a single to left in the second inning and a three-run home run to left in the fifth.

Source: Sports Hochi 2/24/2016, Sports Hochi 2/24/2016, Sports Hochi 2/24/2016, Sports Hochi 2/24/2016, Sports Hochi 2/24/2016, Daily Sports 2/24/2016, Tokyo Sports 2/24/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/24/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/24/2016, Sanspo 2/24/2016, Sponichi 2/25/2016

Chiba Lotte Marines, Orix Buffaloes

• Practice game: Lotte against Orix, February 24
• Lotte 4 - Orix 4
• Hiroya Kawamitsu started the game for Lotte. He gave up four runs on five hits and four walks over two innings.
• Kota Futaki entered the game in the fifth inning. He allowed two hits and walked two over four shutout innings.
• Taiga Hirasawa got the start at short and batted ninth. He went 1-for-4 with an RBI: ground out to the pitcher in the third inning, RBI single to right in the fourth, fly out to left in the sixth, strikeout swinging in the ninth.
• Ikuhiro Kiyota went 3-for-3: single to center, single to right, single to left.
• Shogo Nakamura got the start at second and batted lead-off. He hit a timely single to center in the fourth and a double to left in the seventh.
• Yoshihisa Hirano entered the game in the seventh for Orix. He gave up a lead-off double to Shogo Nakamura, but got out of the inning without allowing any runs.
• Brian Bogusevic recorded a single to center in his second at bat.

Source: Sports Hochi 2/24/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/24/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/24/2016, Sponichi 2/24/2016, Sanspo 2/24/2016, Sanspo 2/25/2016, Sponichi 2/25/2016, Sponichi 2/25/2016

Seibu Lions, Rakuten Eagles

• Practice game: Seibu against Rakuten, February 24
• Rakuten 5 - Seibu 0
• Andy Van Hekken started the game for Seibu. He gave up three runs on four hits over three innings of work. He walked three.
• Ryoma Nogami relieved Van Hekken and did not allow a run or hits over two innings of work. He struck out two.
• Chen-Chang Lee retired the side in order in the ninth. He topped out at 149km/h.
• Shuta Tonosaki got the start at third and batted seventh. He went 2-for-3: single to left and single to center.
• Tomoya Mori got the start at catcher. He went 0-for-2.
• Yuri Furukawa started the game and gave up two hits over four shutout innings. He struck out one.
• Tomohiro Anraku entered the game in the sixth. He did not allow a run or a hit over four innings. He struck out four, including two in a row in the ninth inning, and stopped out at 146km/h.
• Japhet Amador hit a solo home run off Andy Van Hekken in the second inning.
• Louis Okoye started in center field and batted eighth. He went 1-for-2: two-run single off Andy Van Hekken in the second inning (stole second), ground out to second (double play) off Ryoma Nogami in the fourth inning. He was replaced on defense in the fifth inning.

Source: Daily Sports 2/24/2016, Daily Sports 2/25/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/24/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/24/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/24/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/24/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/24/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/25/2016, Sponichi 2/24/2016, Sponichi 2/24/2016, Sponichi 2/24/2016, Sponichi 2/24/2016, Sponichi 2/25/2016, Sponichi 2/25/2016

Yakult Swallows

• Batting practice scrimmage, February 24 (with the count 1-1)
• Masanori Ishikawa faced nine hitters, threw thirty-three pitches, and gave up three hits and a walk. He struck out one.
• Shohei Tateyama faced six hitters, threw eighteen pitches, allowed two hits, struck out one, and topped 146km/h.
• Kyle Davies faced nine hitters and allowed three could-be hits. He topped out at 142km/h.
• Josh Lueke faced six hitters and allowed one could-be hit. He topped out at 148km/h.

Source: Sanspo 2/24/2016, Sanspo 2/24/2016, Sanspo 2/24/2016

Yakult Swallows

• Practice game against Nexen (KBO), February 23
• Rained out.

Source: Tokyo Sports 2/23/2016

Yomiuri Giants

• Practice game against KIA (KBO), February 23
• Yomiuri 2 - KIA 1 (start delayed due to rain, ended after seven innings)
• Toshiki Sakurai started the game and gave up a run on two hits over three innings of work. He faced twelve hitters, started each with a strike on the first pitch, and struck out four. The run he allowed came in the third inning on a double to right-center. He topped out at 143km/h.
• Chiaki Tone did not allow a run or a hit in an inning of work. He did walk the first batter he faced.
• Kota Nakagawa tossed two perfect innings in relief.
• Hayato Sakamoto started at short and batted third. He hit a single to center in the first inning.
• Kazuma Okamoto tied the game with an RBI double to center in the seventh inning.
• Ren Wada hit an RBI single to left in the seventh inning.
• Shinnosuke entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning and hit a double to left-center.

Source: Daily Sports 2/23/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/23/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/23/2016, Sponichi 2/24/2016, Sponichi 2/24/2016

Yokohama Bay Stars

• Practice game against Samsung (KBO), February 23
• Yokohama 8 - Samsung 3
• Shota Imanaga started the game and gave up two hits over four shutout innings. He struck out four.
• Yasutomo Kubo tossed three shutout innings and gave up one hit. He threw thirty-eight pitches: thirty-six fastballs and two off-speed pitches. He topped out at 145km/h.
• Yoshitomo Tsutsugo hit a home run out to center in the fourth inning.
• Jamie Romak homered out to left in the fourth inning.

Source: Daily Sports 2/23/2016, Daily Sports 2/23/2016, Daily Sports 2/23/2016, Sponichi 2/24/2016

Softbank Hawks, Chiba Lotte Marines

• Practice game: Softbank Hawks vs Chiba Lotte Marines, February 23
• Rained out.

Source: Daily Sports 2/23/2016

Seibu Lions, Orix Buffaloes

• Practice game: Seibu Lions vs Orix Buffaloes, February 23
• Rained out.

Source: Daily Sports 2/23/2016

Rakuten Eagles

• Practice game against Doosan, February 23
• Rained out.

Source: Daily Sports 2/23/2016

Hanshin Tigers

• Ni-gun practice game: Hanshin Tigers vs Kochi Fighting Dogs (Independent League), February 22
• Hanshin 4 - Kochi 0
• Koki Moriya started the game and did not allow a hit or a run over three innings. He struck out four and topped out at 143km/h.
• Shun Takayama started in left and batted lead-off. He went 3-for-3 with a walk: single to left, single to right, single to center, walk.

Source: Sports Hochi 2/22/2016, Daily Sports 2/20/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/22/2016, Sanspo 2/23/2016

Hiroshima Carp

• Practice game against KIA (KBO), February 22
• Hiroshima 8 - KIA 0
• Seiya Suzuki got the start in right and batted fifth. He hit a two-run double to left in the first inning.
• Ryoma Nishikawa took over at short in the fourth inning. He recorded a two-run triple in the fourth.
• Kris Johnson started the game and allowed one hit over three shutout innings.
• Jay Jackson did not allow a run or a hit in the eighth inning. He struck out two and needed just fourteen pitches for the inning.
• Shota Nakazaki retired the side in order in the ninth inning. He also struck out two.

Source: Daily Sports 2/22/2016, Daily Sports 2/22/2016, Daily Sports 2/23/2016, Daily Sports 2/23/2016, Sanspo 2/22/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/23/2016

Yokohama Bay Stars

• Ni-gun practice game: Yokohama Bay Stars vs SK (KBO), February 22
• Yuki Kuniyoshi tossed three shutout innings.
• Shuichirou Osada did not allow a run over one inning.
• Shinji Ohara gave up three runs in an inning.
• Yuta Kakita allowed four runs over two inning.
• Masayuki Kuwahara lead-off the game with a home run to right.

Source: Sports Hochi 2/22/2016, Daily Sports 2/22/2016

Yomiuri Giants, Hiroshima Carp

• Ni-gun practice game: Hiroshima Carp against Yomiuri Giants, February 21
• Hiroshima 2 - Yomiuri 2
• Yasuhiro Yamamoto hit a home run to left off Yuta Nakamura in the first inning.
• Takehiro Donoue batted fourth. He went 3-for-4.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/21/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/21/2016

• San-gun practice game against Panasonic (Industrial League), February 21
• Panasonic 1 - Yomiuri 0
• Jun Hasegawa started the game and gave up two hits in four shutout innings. He did not allow any walks.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/21/2016

Hanshin Tigers

• Ni-gun practice game against Hanwha (KBO), February 21
• Hanshin 2 - Hanwha 2
• Koyo Aoyagi started the game and did not allow a run or hit over two innings. He walked one batter.
• Shun Takayama started in left and batted lead-off. He went 1-for-3: a walk in the first inning, strike out looking in the third inning, reached on a grounder that deflected off the pitcher's glove to short (initially ruled an error, later changed to a hit and advanced to second on throwing error) in the fifth inning, and a fly out to center in the seventh inning.
• Yutaro Itayama got the start in right and batted fifth. He went 1-for-4.

Source: Daily Sports 2/21/2016, Daily Sports 2/21/2016, Sanspo 2/22/2016

• Batting practice scrimmage, February 21
• Kyuji Fujikawa faced eleven hitters and allowed four hits, struck out one, walked one, threw forty-one pitches, and topped out at 144km/h.
• Kosuke Fukudome went 2-for-4, including 1-for-3 (F7, G4, 1B8) against Kyuji Fujikawa.

Source: Sanspo 2/22/2016, Sanspo 2/22/2016

Yokohama Bay Stars

• Practice game against Nexen (KBO), February 21
• Nexen 4 - Yokohama 3
• Shun Yamaguchi started the game. He did not allow a run or a hit in four innings. He did walk three.
• Shoichi Ino relieved Yamaguchi. He allowed a run on three hits over four innings.
• Yuya Kubo surrendered a three-run home run in the ninth inning.
• Shuto Takajo threw out three runners trying to steal second. He recorded a timely double to left-center in the eighth inning.
• Jose Lopez went 3-for-3 with a home run.

Source: Sponichi 2/21/2016, Sponichi 2/22/2016, Daily Sports 2/21/2016, Daily Sports 2/21/2016, Daily Sports 2/21/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/21/2016

Softbank Hawks

• Intra-squad game, February 21
• Tsuyoshi Wada started for the Reds. He faced six hitters over two innings and threw seventeen pitches.
  • First inning (six pitches): Ks, G3, G4.
  • Second inning (eleven pitches): G6, L8, F7.
• Robert Suarez pitched in relief for the Reds. He entered the game in the fourth inning. He faced three and struck out two. He topped 154km/h twice during his outing.
• Tadashi Settsu gave up two runs on three hits over two innings of work.
• Rick Vanden Hurk allowed one hit and no runs in an inning of work.
• Edison Barrios recorded a perfect inning.

Source: Tokyo Sports 2/21/2016, Tokyo Sports 2/21/2016, Sponichi 2/21/2016, Sanspo 2/21/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/22/2016

Seibu Lions

• Practice game against Lotte (KBO), February 21
• Seibu 9 - Lotte 0
• Takayuki Kishi started the game and pitched one inning. He needed just five pitches to record three outs (F8, G3, G1).
• Kona Takahashi tossed four perfect innings. He struck out four and topped out at 149km/h.
• Isamu Sato gave up a hit in four shutout innings. The hit came in the ninth inning (lead-off hitter). He also walked/hit two.
• Yuji Onizaki hit a two-run double to left-center in the fourth inning.
• Masatoshi Okada recorded a pinch-hit timely triple to right-center in the eighth inning.
• Shogo Akiyama hit a timely single to center in the third inning and a timely single to right in the fourth inning.

Source: Sponichi 2/21/2016, Sponichi 2/21/2016, Sponichi 2/22/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/21/2016, Sanspo 2/21/2016, Sanspo 2/21/2016, Sanspo 2/22/2016

Orix Buffaloes

• Practice game against Doosan (KBO), February 21
• Orix 10 - Doosan 7 (eleven innings)
• Sachiya Yamasaki tossed three shutout innings and allowed one hit.
• Taisuke Kondo gave up a hit and tossed two shutout innings. He topped out at 145km/h.
  • Sixth inning: Ks, 1B8, F4, Ks
  • Seventh inning: F4, G1, Fo3
• Shunta Goto got the start in center and batted lead-off. He collected two hits and two stolen bases.
• Koji Oshiro started at short and batted sixth. He recorded recorded an RBI single to center in the seventh, a single to right in the ninth, and an RBI single to right in the eleventh.
• Yuya Oda collected three hits and two stolen bases. He reached base on an infield single in the seventh and went on to steal second and third.

Source: Daily Sports 2/21/2016, Daily Sports 2/22/2016, Sponichi 2/21/2016, Sponichi 2/21/2016, Sponichi 2/22/2016, Sports Hochi 2/21/2016, Sports Hochi 2/21/2016, Sanspo 2/22/2016

• Batting practice scrimmage, February 21
• Chihiro Kaneko faced eleven hitters -- including Brent Morel, Tony Blanco, and Eiichi Koyano -- and gave up two could-be hits. He threw forty-five pitches.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/21/2016

Hanshin Tigers, Rakuten Eagles

• Practice game: Hanshin Tigers vs Rakuten Eagles, February 20
• Rakuten 6 - Hanshin 2
• Shintaro Fujinami started the game for Hanshin. He gave up six runs (two earned) on five hits over three innings. A wild pitch, two errors, a walk, an HBP, and four hits allowed the Eagles to score all six runs in the second inning. He topped out at 155km/h. Of the thirty-one fastballs he threw, twenty-four were at least 150km/h.
• Daiki Enokida entered the game in the fourth inning and did not allow a run or hit over two innings of work. He walked a hitter with one out in the fifth, but got out of the inning by getting pinch-hitter Kenta Kurihara to hit into a double play.
• Kazuhito Futagami and Naoto Tsuru tossed two shutout innings a piece.
• Tsuyoshi Nishioka was the starting designated hitter and batted lead-off. He went 1-for-2 with a walk.
• Ryota Imanari started at third and batted third. He led off the fourth inning with a home run to left off Takahiro Shiomi. He struck out looking in his first at bat.
• Naomasa Yokawa played left and went 0-for-4.
• Shintaro Yokota got the start in right and batted ninth. He recorded two hits and an RBI: single to right off Kodai Hamaya in the third inning and a timely single to right off Takahito Otsuka in the seventh inning.
• Yamato entered the game as a defensive replacement at second in the sixth inning.
• Seishiro Sakamoto entered the game as a defensive replacement at catcher in the sixth inning. He hit a double to left off Takahito Otsuka in the seventh inning.
• Kodai Hamaya started the game for Rakuten. He gave up a hit, but did not allow a run in three innings of work -- he threw twelve pitches in the first inning. He struck out three and topped out at 144km/h.
• Takaaki Yokoyama entered the game in the fifth inning. He tossed two shutout innings. He wriggled out of a runners on first and second and one out jam in the fifth inning with a double play.
• Eigoro Mogi got the start at second and batted third. He struck out in the first inning and recorded a timely hit to left in the second.
• Louis Okoye started in center field and batted eighth. He went 1-for-2 with an RBI. With runners on first and third and one out in the second inning, he recorded a timely hit to center and later came around to score on a wild pitch. He grounded out to third in his second trip to the plate in the third inning. He was replaced on defense by Hiroaki Shimauchi in the fourth inning.

Source: Sports Hochi 2/20/2016, Sports Hochi 2/21/2016, Sponichi 2/20/2016, Sponichi 2/20/2016, Sponichi 2/20/2016, Sponichi 2/20/2016, Sponichi 2/20/2016, Sponichi 2/21/2016, Sponichi 2/21/2016, Sponichi 2/21/2016, Sponichi 2/21/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/20/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/20/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/20/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/20/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/21/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/21/2016, Daily Sports 2/20/2016, Daily Sports 2/21/2016, Daily Sports 2/21/2016, Daily Sports 2/21/2016, Sanspo 2/20/2016, Sanspo 2/21/2016, Sanspo 2/21/2016, Sanspo 2/21/2016, Sanspo 2/21/2016

Hanshin Tigers, Seibu Lions

• Ni-gun practice game: Hanshin Tigers vs Seibu Lions, February 20
• Rained out.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/20/2016

Nippon Ham Fighters

• Intra-squad game, February 20
• Reds 11 - Whites 7
• Takayuki Kato started the game for the Reds and tossed two shutout innings.
• Shohei Otani was the designated hitter and batted ninth for the Reds. He went 1-for-4 and hit a two-run triple to left off Kenta Uehara in the first inning.
• Kenta Uehara started the game for the Whites. He gave up eight runs on nine hits over 1.1 innings of work. He faced eleven hitters, threw forty-five pitches, and gave up eight runs on eight hits in the first inning (he struck out the first batter he faced). The inning ended even though there was only one out (pitching coach Masato Yoshii stopped the inning after ten straight hitters reached base). He topped out at 142km/h.
• Kazutomo Iguchi pitched for the Whites. He entered the game in the fifth inning and tossed a perfect inning: Shohei Otani Kl, Haruki Nishikawa Ks, Kenshi Sugiya F6. He threw fourteen pitches and topped out at 148km/h.
• Toshitake Yokoo started at second and batted seventh for the Whites. He went 2-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI.
• Kenji Yano was the starting designated hitter and batted fifth. He hit a solo home run to left in his second at bat in the fourth inning.

Source: Sports Hochi 2/20/2016, Sports Hochi 2/20/2016, Sports Hochi 2/21/2016, Daily Sports 2/20/2016, Daily Sports 2/20/2016, Daily Sports 2/21/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/20/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/20/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/20/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/21/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/21/2016, Sponichi 2/20/2016, Sponichi 2/20/2016, Sponichi 2/21/2016

Seibu Lions

• Practice game against Lotte (KBO), February 20
• Rained out.

Source: Sanspo 2/20/2016

Orix Buffaloes

• Practice game against Doosan (KBO), February 20
• Rained out.

Source: Daily Sports 2/20/2016

Chunichi Dragons, Yokohama Bay Stars

• Ni-gun practice game: Chunichi Dragons vs Yokohama Bay Stars, February 19
• Kenta Ishida started the game for Yokohama and gave up a run on two hits over four innings of work.
• Yoshiki Sunada relieved Ishida and tossed four shutout innings and allowed four hits.
• Keisho Amiya got the start at catcher and batted ninth. He went 1-for-4.

Source: Daily Sports 2/19/2016, Sponichi 2/19/2016

Softbabnk Hawks

• Ni-gun practice game against Shin Nittetsu Sumikin Kazusa Magic, February 19
• Shunsuke Kasaya started the game did not allow a run or hit over two innings of work. Four of the six outs he recored were fly balls.
• Yuki Yanagita was the starting designated hitter and batted fourth. He went 0-for-1: walked and grounded out to second.

Source: Sanspo 2/19/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/19/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/20/2016

Yakult Swallows

• Practice game against SK (KBO), February 18
• Yakult 9 - SK 2
• Yasuhiro Ogawa started the game and gave up two runs on four hits over two innings of work. He gave up two doubles in the first a solo home run in the second. He topped out at 142km/h.
• Kotaro Yamasaki started in center field and batted lead-off. He walked and stole second in the first inning. He also hit a two-out, two-run triple to right in the sixth inning.
• Tetsuto Yamada started at third and batted second. He went 1-for-3 with two RBI: Ks, HR(2 RBI), Ks. His home run in the third gave the Swallows a 3-2 lead.

Source: Sports Hochi 2/18/2016, Chunichi Sports 2/18/2016, Sponichi 2/18/2016, Sponichi 2/18/2016, Sponichi 2/19/2016, Sponichi 2/19/2016, ZakZak 2/19/2016, Sanspo 2/19/2016

Yomiuri Giants

• Practice game against LG (KBO), February 18
• Yomiuri 4 - LG 2
• Starting line-up: Taishi Ota (CF), Shinnosuke Shigenobu (LF), Hayato Sakamoto (SS), Garrett Jones (1B), Luis Cruz (2B), Hisayoshi Chono (RF), Kazuma Okamoto (3B), Ren Wada (DH), Seiji Kobayashi (C), Tetsuya Utsumi (SP)
• Tetsuya Utsumi tossed two perfect innings. He threw twenty-four pitches. He topped out at 138km/h.
• Tetsuya Yamaguchi relieved Utsumi and recorded three ground outs to short.
• Shinnosuke Shigenobu went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base: 1B8-SB, BB-PO, 1B, F8, 1B9(RBI).
• Luis Cruz hit a solo home in the second inning.
• Kazuma Okamoto collected two hits: double to center, single to left.
• Ren Wada also recorded two hits.

Source: Chunichi Sports 2/18/2016, Daily Sports 2/18/2016, Daily Sports 2/18/2016, Daily Sports 2/18/2016, Sponichi 2/18/2016, Sponichi 2/19/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/18/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/18/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/18/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/18/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/19/2016, Sanspo 2/19/2016

Softbank Hawks

• Practice game against Lotte (KBO), February 18
• Softbank 4 - Lotte 0
• Shota Takeda started the game. He loaded the bases in the first inning, but managed to get out of the jam without allowing a run. He ended up tossing three shutout inning while allowing two hits. He threw fifty-seven pitches (twenty-four in the first, nineteen in the second, and fourteen in the third), walked/hit two, struck out two, and topped out at 144km/h.
• Barbaro Canizares was the starting designated hitter and batted fourth. He recorded a timely hit to center in the fourth inning.

Source: Sports Hochi 2/18/2016, Sanspo 2/18/2016, Daily Sports 2/19/2016, Sanspo 2/19/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/19/2016

Seibu Lions

• Intra-squad game, February 18
• Reds 1 - Whites 1
• Ryoma Nogami started the game for the Reds and allowed two hits in one shutout inning of work. He threw twenty-three pitches.
• Chen-Chang Lee pitched in relief for the Reds. He allowed a run (unearned) on one hit over an inning of work. He topped out at 148km/h.
• Yusei Kikuchi started the game for the Whites and gave up one run (unearned) on two hits over three innings of work. He threw seventy-one pitches, struck out five, walked four, and topped out at 154km/h. He threw twenty-one fastballs in the first inning, all at least 150km/h.
• Tomoya Mori threw out Yuji Kaneko trying to steal second in the fourth inning.

Source: Sports Hochi 2/18/2016, Chunichi Sports 2/18/2016, Daily Sports 2/18/2016, Sponichi 2/18/2016, Sponichi 2/19/2016, Sponichi 2/19/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/18/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/18/2016, Sanspo 2/18/2016, Sports Hochi 2/19/2016

Rakuten Eagles

• Practice game against KIA (KBO), February 18
• KIA 4 - Rakuten 0
• Starting line-up: Takero Okajima (RF), Tetsuro (SS), Ginji (1B), Japhet Amador (DH), Eigoro Mogi (2B), Zelous Wheeler (3B), Hiroaki Shimauchi (LF), Louis Okoye (CF), Yuichi Adachi (C), Yuri Furukawa (SP)
• Yuri Furukawa started the game and allowed a run in four innings of work.
• Yoshinao Kamata entered the game in the fifth inning. He gave up a run on two hits over an inning of work in relief. He struck out two and topped out at 148km/h.
• Louis Okoye went 0-for-4: Ks, Ks, G6, F9. He made a sliding catch in left-center in the ninth inning.

Source: Sports Hochi 2/18/2016, Chunichi Sports 2/18/2016, Daily Sports 2/18/2016, Sponichi 2/18/2016, Sponichi 2/19/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/18/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/19/2016

Chunichi Dragons

• Batting practice scrimmage, February 18
• Hitoki Iwase faced eight hitters and allowed four hits. He also walked one and threw thirty-two pitches.
• Hiroto Fuku faced three hitters -- Ryosuke Hirata, Iori Katsura, and Takuma Kato -- and retired them in order.
• Daisuke Yamai faced six hitters and did not allow any base-runners.
• Dayan Viciedo went 0-for-3.

Source: Nikkan Sports 2/18/2016, Nikkan Sports 2/18/2016, Sanspo 2/18/2016, Sponichi 2/19/2016, Sponichi 2/19/2016, Sports Hochi 2/19/2016