Hanshin Pitcher Iwasaki Struggles Against Yakult
Listen to the story
Hanshin played Yakult in a baseball game.
The score was 0-0 for a long time.
In the fifth inning, Hanshin had two runners near home base. But Hanshin did not score.
In the eighth inning, Hanshin's pitcher Yu Iwasaki had trouble.
He gave four walks. A walk happens when a pitcher throws four bad balls.
One walk pushed a runner home. This is called a walk-in run.
So Yakult scored the first run of the game.
Fans of Hanshin felt very sad and worried.
This season, Iwasaki has a bad record against Yakult.
His ERA against Yakult is over 21 this season.
ERA shows how many runs a pitcher allows. A high ERA is bad.
Iwasaki is the team's third relief pitcher. He usually pitches well.
But this game was different for him.
Hanshin fans hope he will pitch better next time.
Vocabulary6 words
- walk
- when a batter goes to first base after four bad throws
- walk-in run
- a point scored because of a walk with runners on base
- ERA
- a number that shows how many runs a pitcher gives up
- reliever
- a pitcher who comes into the game after the first pitcher
- inning
- one part of a baseball game
- scoreless
- with no points for either team
Quiz
Answer key
1. 0-0 2. He gave four walks, one with a run forced in 3. False
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Hanshin played _____ in a baseball game.
The score was 0-0 for a long _____.
In the fifth inning, Hanshin had two runners near home base. But Hanshin did not _____.
In the eighth inning, Hanshin's pitcher Yu _____ had trouble.
He gave four _____.
One walk pushed a runner home. This is called a _____.
So Yakult scored the first _____ of the game.
This season, Iwasaki has a bad record against _____.
His ERA against Yakult is over 21 this _____.
Hanshin fans hope he will pitch _____ next time.