Rakuten Pitcher Ito Starts, Tatsumi Hits Home Run
Listen to the story
Itsuki Ito plays baseball for the Rakuten Eagles.
He is a pitcher. A pitcher throws the ball to the other team.
Ito was the starting pitcher in a recent game. This means he started the game for his team.
The Rakuten Eagles play in Japanese professional baseball.
Another player on the team is Ryosuke Tatsumi.
Tatsumi hit a home run in the game. This is his 14th home run this year.
A home run is a big hit. The ball goes very far.
Tatsumi said he was thankful for his potential. This means his ability to do well.
He hit the ball to right-center field.
Tatsumi used good bat speed for the hit.
Vocabulary6 words
- pitcher
- a player who throws the ball
- starting pitcher
- the pitcher who begins the game
- Japanese professional baseball
- the top baseball games played in Japan for money
- home run
- a very big hit in baseball
- potential
- the ability to become good at something
- bat
- the stick used to hit the ball
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Quiz
Answer key
1. Pitcher 2. A home run 3. Rakuten Eagles
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Itsuki Ito plays baseball for the Rakuten _____.
He is a _____. A pitcher throws the ball to the other team.
Ito was the _____ pitcher in a recent game.
The Rakuten Eagles play in Japanese _____ baseball.
Tatsumi hit a _____ in the game.
This is his 14th home run this _____.
Tatsumi said he was thankful for his _____.
He hit the ball to right-center _____.
Tatsumi used good _____ speed for the hit.
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