Kazuhiro Sasaki, who served as a commentator for the Nippon Broadcasting System Show Up Nighter All-Star Game Round 2, which aired on the 24th, commented on Nippon-Ham Fighters’ Kotaro Kiyomiya.
Kiyomiya, who appeared in the All-Pacific team’s “2nd and 3rd” starting line-up, hit the fourth fastball pitch that Odeki Murakami (Hanshin Tigers) threw from 1 ball 2 strike to left in the first inning with no outs in the 0-0 first inning, and the next in the 4-0 second inning with two outs in the first inning, Murakami threw from 1 ball 2 strike to the left field side of the plate. The fourth pitch fastball was wall hit directly to doble in time.
Kiyomiya, whose momentum was unstoppable, came to bat for the third time in the fourth inning with two runner on base with the score at 7-1. He hit fastball into the upper right-field stands off the second straight pitch thrown by Griffin (The Giants) after a ball.
Regarding this Home Run, Sasaki commented, “It’s amazing, even though it was a high ball. I was watching home run competition, and I think he really hit it far, and he has the power to carry it and the way he hits it. It’s something he’s naturally gifted.”
In his fourth at-bat with no runner on base and no outs in the sixth inning with fastball at 9-3, if he had hit hit he would have had the cycle. He went for triple from Masaki Oikawa (Hanshin Tigers) but hit a fly ball to right field. In his fifth at-bat with no runner on base and the score at 9-7 with the score at 9-7, he hit a fly ball to Hiromu Ise (DeNA) and failed to hit the cycle.
Mr. Sasaki reflected, “I was putting a bit of strain on it.”
(Nippon Broadcasting System Show Up Nighter)
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