Katsuki Azuma (27), a pitcher for the Yokohama DeNA Baystars of the Japanese professional baseball team, is on an unstoppable 9-game winning streak and is challenging for the 3rd pitcher crown.

Azuma appeared as a starting pitcher in the game against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp held at Mazda Stadium in Hiroshima, Japan on the 7th, and pitched 116 pitches over 9 innings, allowing 8 hits, 8 strikeouts, and allowing 1 run while pitching a complete game. ​On this day,

he earned his third complete game of the season and allowed a run with a solo home run. Yokohama won 3-1. 

Azuma achieved his 13th win (2 losses) of the season, leading the Central League in wins. Beat the second-place group (4 people) with 10 wins. The winning percentage (.867) is also first in the league. The average ERA was lowered to 2.11. 3rd place in the league. The number of strikeouts is 103, which ranks 8th in the league and is very different from teammate Imanaga (152 strikeouts), who ranks first. 

Azuma, who underwent elbow ligament fusion surgery in 2020, only won one win in 2021 and one win in 2022, but is making a comeback this season and is having a career-high season.

Azuma, who ended the first inning with a three-way strike, had one hit with one out in the second inning, but blocked the game without allowing any runs. He hit a solo home run to the leadoff batter in the third inning, allowing the score to be tied 1-1. He ended the inning with a strikeout and an infield grounder after allowing a run.

He allowed a base hit with one out in the fourth inning, but he struck out and hit an outfield fly ball. He struck out the first batter in the 5th inning, got an out, and got a hit, but ended the inning with a double play by the second baseman.

In the 7th inning, he had one hit with one out, but he was able to block it without allowing any runs thanks to an infield ground ball and a strikeout. The 8th inning ended with a double play by the second baseman with one out and runners on first base. With two outs and two outs in the ninth inning, he was hit by a left-field hit, but struck out the last out-of-count swing and finished with a complete game.

Japanese media Sponichi Annex said, “Azuma won 13 times. He also met the winning percentage title requirements, and has his sights set on winning the title of 3rd overall as a pitcher, including earned run average.” His pace is good, with 5 wins and an ERA of 1.60 (8 runs in 45 innings) in 6 games since August.

Azuma said after the game, “He wanted to throw as long as possible because the bullpen was throwing a lot.”

Azuma has won 9 games in a row recently. It has been 26 years since manager Daisuke Miura achieved 9 consecutive wins by a Yokohama pitcher in 1997. This is the first feat for a left-handed pitcher in 30 years since Hiroki Nomura in 1993.온라인바카라

Azuma said, “It would be nice to win the title, but each game is more important than that. “I will work hard so that I can go back to Yokohama and have a winning streak,” he said.

Yokohama broke away from a two-game losing streak and a three-game losing streak. They are two games ahead of fourth-place Yomiuri for third place going into the Climax Series.