Giants' Ogasawara Shuts Out Carp; Hiroshima Manager Arai Voices Frustration
Yomiuri Giants pitcher Kobayashi Ogasawara pitched a strong game against the Hiroshima Carp.
He threw a complete-game shutout, meaning he pitched the entire game without letting the other team score.
It was his first shutout in three years, making the win a special milestone.
The Carp managed only four hits during the game and could not even reach third base.
Hiroshima manager Ryoichi Arai spoke after the loss. He said he had wanted to find a way to change the result.
He also admitted that the defeat felt frustrating for his team.
Arai's comments show how difficult it was to face such a dominant performance from the opposing pitcher.
Ogasawara's shutout came at an important point in the season, adding meaning to his achievement.
The report also noted support from the Giants' relief pitchers earlier in the season, who had helped the team in tough situations.
In a separate game, Giants player Yuta Izumiguchi hit a three-run home run.
It was his seventh home run of the season, his best total so far in his career.
Izumiguchi also spoke about how he relaxes in daily life.
He mentioned that he enjoys a character from the TV drama 'VIVANT.'
He said he likes the character because of their strong beliefs and confident attitude.
These stories together highlight both strong pitching and hitting performances in Japanese professional baseball this week.
Vocabulary6 words
- complete-game shutout
- when one pitcher plays the whole game and stops the other team from scoring
- milestone
- an important point or achievement
- performance
- how well someone plays or does something
- relief pitchers
- pitchers who come into the game to help partway through
- career
- a person's whole time playing a sport professionally
- beliefs
- strong ideas someone thinks are true or important
Quiz
Answer key
1. It was his first in three years 2. Seven 3. False
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Yomiuri Giants pitcher Kobayashi Ogasawara pitched a strong _____ against the Hiroshima Carp.
He threw a complete-game _____, meaning he pitched the entire game without letting the other team score.
It was his first shutout in three _____, making the win a special milestone.
The Carp managed only four _____ during the game and could not even reach third base.
Hiroshima manager Ryoichi Arai spoke after the _____.
He said he had wanted to find a way to change the _____.
He also admitted that the defeat felt _____ for his team.
In a separate game, Giants player Yuta Izumiguchi hit a three-run home _____.
It was his seventh home run of the season, his best total so far in his _____.
He mentioned that he enjoys a character from the TV drama _____.