Murakami Bats Cleanup as White Sox Near Playoff Spot
Listen to the story
Munetaka Murakami, the Japanese baseball player, batted fourth and played first base for the Chicago White Sox in a game against the Kansas City Royals.
Batting fourth is often called the cleanup spot, and it is usually given to a team's strongest hitter.
In the third inning, Murakami hit a run-scoring double to right field, helping his team take an early lead.
The White Sox are close to reaching the playoffs for the first time in five years. If they win, they will secure their spot.
Reports say the team is also close to a special milestone that has never been reached before in team history.
The Royals, meanwhile, are also fighting for a playoff place, which made this game especially important for both sides.
Murakami moved from Japan to play in Major League Baseball this season, joining other Japanese stars competing in the United States.
Fans in Japan have been closely following his performances, especially in games that could decide his team's playoff chances.
The game took place in Kansas City, home of the Royals, and drew strong interest from baseball fans on both sides of the Pacific.
With the season nearing its end, every win now carries extra weight for teams still hoping to make the postseason.
Vocabulary8 words
- cleanup spot
- the fourth position in the batting order; usually a strong hitter
- run-scoring double
- a hit that lets a runner score and the batter reach second base
- playoffs
- games after the regular season to decide the champion
- milestone
- an important achievement or point in history
- Major League Baseball
- the top professional baseball league in the United States
- postseason
- another word for the playoffs
- inning
- one of the nine parts of a baseball game
- lead
- being ahead in points during a game
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Quiz
Answer key
1. First base 2. Murakami hit a run-scoring double 3. A win could send them to the playoffs
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Munetaka Murakami batted fourth and played _____ base for the Chicago White Sox.
Batting fourth is often called the _____ spot.
In the third inning, Murakami hit a run-scoring _____ to right field.
The White Sox are close to reaching the _____ for the first time in five years.
If they win, they will secure their _____.
Reports say the team is close to a special _____ never reached before.
The Royals are also fighting for a playoff _____.
Murakami moved from Japan to play in Major League _____ this season.
Fans in Japan have been closely following his _____.
The game took place in _____, home of the Royals.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think batting fourth is considered an important position in baseball?
- How might it feel for players when every game affects their team's playoff chances?
- Why do fans in Japan follow Murakami's games in the United States?
- What makes reaching the playoffs meaningful for a team and its fans?
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