Shohei vs. Sugano! The Japanese Starter Showdown Kicks Off

Man, what a game tonight, I can't even handle it

You know what made it the best? First off, the Japanese starter showdown! Our guy Shohei, and the Rockies sending out Sugano. Just that alone is worth three beers easy. This one's getting saved on the DVR for sure.

Bottom of the 1st, instant goosebumps

Leading off the game, Shohei absolutely crushed Sugano's fastball for a homer! 424 feet to center, 111.3 mph exit velo, 21-degree launch angle. A textbook Ohtani bomb, drawn straight out of a picture book. I screamed "UOOOH!" all by myself and spilled my beer. First pitch of the Japanese duel and we're already in Ohtani-world — this is what I'm talking about.

And then Freeman went back-to-back with one into left-center. 100.6 mph, 378 feet. 2-0 in the first inning just like that. Sorry, Sugano-san, but a battle's a battle, you know?

Shohei's two-way mound game was unreal too

It didn't end with the bat tonight. On the mound, Shohei put up zero hits allowed and 7 K's. Topped out at 100 mph, averaged 91 mph, and had the Rockies lineup spinning in circles. The walk-related run in the 4th was a bummer, but giving up one run with no hits? Totally fine. Doing it all on both sides of the ball — the guy's not human anymore.

Sugano, too — yeah, he gave up those two homers in the first, but in the 3rd he got Shohei to look at strike three after working the count, and in the 5th he got a grounder to right off a cutter on a full count. That's the man with the NPB career numbers right there — he doesn't go down easy. He showed the pride of the Japanese duel, no question. Mad respect.

Shohei's 7th inning — that one was right at 'em

In the bottom of the 7th, Shohei rocketed a 100.1 mph liner into left-center, but right at the fielder...! 22-degree angle, he squared it up perfectly. I literally went "AHHH!" out loud. Well, it was a hit-quality batted ball, just bad luck. There's always next time.

And the dagger from Pages

Bottom of the 8th, Pages launches one down the left field line at 106 mph. 4-1, game over. Pages has been locked in lately, you can really trust him. Call's 104.5 mph RBI knock in the 4th was a great piece of contact too, and the lineup's stringing it together beautifully.

Wrapping it up

Shohei hit, Shohei pitched, Freeman and Pages went yard, and we won the Japanese duel against Sugano. 4-1, clean win, nothing to complain about. Sugano pitched well too — already looking forward to the next matchup. Tomorrow, let's keep it rolling!