Yusei Kikuchi, a starter for the Toronto Blue Jays, had a difficult outing on Saturday as he gave up the lead and was handed the loss in an 8-7 defeat against the Colorado Rockies. Kikuchi, who now holds a record of 9-5, allowed six runs, two of which were earned, on six hits and four walks over 4-2/3 innings. He managed to strike out four batters at Denver’s Coors Field.
The Japanese left-hander seemed to be off to a good start, taking a 5-0 lead into the bottom of the second inning. However, things quickly turned as Charlie Blackmon hit a bases-loaded single and drove in two runs, narrowing the lead to 5-2. In the fourth inning, Kikuchi gave up two more runs, causing the Rockies to cut the lead even further to 5-4. The struggling pitcher was eventually taken out of the game with two outs in the fifth inning after issuing back-to-back walks and putting the go-ahead run on base.
Reflecting on his performance, Kikuchi admitted, I got behind in the count because I made it too easy to tell which fastballs were balls or strikes, and they went after my breaking ball. I know what needs to be fixed, so I want to make the proper adjustments. It is clear that Kikuchi is determined to bounce back from this setback and improve his game.
In other Major League Baseball action, Shohei Ohtani, the two-way player for the Los Angeles Angels, experienced another game without hitting a home run. Ohtani went 0-for-2 at the plate but managed to draw three walks in the Angels’ 2-1 loss to the Oakland Athletics. This marks Ohtani’s ninth consecutive game without hitting a home run, which is his longest drought of the season.
Despite the lack of home runs, Ohtani’s walk count continues to rise. His 21 walks are the most in the majors this year and represent his highest total in an MLB season, surpassing the 20 walks he recorded in 2021. Interestingly, the crowd at the game expressed their disappointment by booing when Ohtani drew walks, hoping to see him swing the bat even though the Angels were the visiting team.
Overall, it was a challenging day for both Yusei Kikuchi and Shohei Ohtani. While Kikuchi struggled on the mound and ultimately suffered a loss, Ohtani’s dry spell without a home run continued despite his ability to draw walks. Both players will be looking to bounce back and make a stronger impact in their upcoming games.
