Shohei Goes Multi-Hit, But Their Bats Just Wouldn't Quit

Man, Shohei Did His Part Though

Let me start with Shohei. Bottom of the 1st, he draws a leadoff walk right out of the gate. Took the first-pitch fastball, laid off two splitters beautifully, then watched two more fastballs miss. That's the eye, baby. The whole stadium feels different when Shohei gets on.

He got on again in the 2nd. With two strikes, he fought off a 95 mph fastball and rolled it into right-center. Exit velo was only 80.3 mph so it wasn't crushed, but it's about being tough at the plate, you know? Hanging in on a 95 mph heater and finding a hole — that kind of consistency is just nuts. He grounded out on a splitter in the 5th, but he reached twice, so Shohei did his job today too. He's on a multi-hit pace.

It Got Ugly Right From the First Inning

That wasn't the problem. Top of the 1st and I already had a bad feeling. Basallo bloops one down the right-field line, then Kjerstad flares a 63.9 mph fly ball down the left-field line… you know, those weak little flares that drop in just kill your rhythm.

Then in the 2nd, Ward goes deep at 102 mph and 388 ft, and in the 3rd, Kjerstad smokes one 104.7 mph and 406 ft to dead center. When 100+ mph rockets keep flying out of their bats, you know they've got our guy figured out.

Muncy's Bomb Got Us Going, But...

Bottom of the 1st, off Shohei's walk we strung something together, and when Muncy lined a 102.8 mph shot into left-center for a run, I was like, "Alright, here we come!" That exit velo right there — that's a guy swinging it real well.

But we couldn't keep it going. In the 7th, Alonso took one out at 106.8 mph and 398 ft, and in the 8th, Alexander gave up a 99.6 mph, 390 ft shot to make it 1-12. I was muttering "you gotta be kidding me" as I cracked open my third beer. Just looking at those exit velos makes me sigh — their lineup was locked in way too hard.

Let's Flip the Page

You take the L sometimes, days like this happen. The saving grace is Shohei staying in form, 2-for-4 reaching base. Next game, let's see Yoshinobu or Roki bring it with some fire on the mound, and if the bats string it together we can absolutely bounce back. No dwelling, no dwelling. I'll be cheering tomorrow too!