Seibu Lions right-hander Ken Togame overcame an awkward start to throw seven innings in his team's 7-0 win over the Chiba Lotte Marines on Wednesday afternoon.
On the day Lotte handed its starting assignment to the first pro ballplayer out of academic powerhouse Kyoto University, Eisuke Tanaka, Togame stole the show. After pitching out of a no-out, bases-loaded jam in the first, Togame (2-1) cruised for the next six innings, in which only one Marines batter got as far as second.
With superb movement and command of his fastball and curve, Togame was able to miss bats with both pitches. He surrendered five hits and two walks, while striking out seven as his teammates bludgeoned the Marines with 15 hits.