It took a few innings, but the real Shohei Otani showed up, striking out 10 en route to his first win of the season as the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters beat the Chiba Lotte Marines 9-4 in the Pacific League on Sunday afternoon.
Before 29,672 at a packed QVC Marine Field, Otani, the fastest Japanese pitcher ever recorded, began with little of his trademark velocity or command.
Otani (1-2) walked the first batter he faced on four pitches, and came perilously close to blowing a five-run lead before he established a rhythm and seized control of the contest.