Takahiro Norimoto moved past Hall of Famer Hideo Nomo in the NPB record books on Thursday by striking out 10-plus batters in seven consecutive games.
The 26-year-old Norimoto (7-1) fanned 12 in eight innings for the Tohoku Rakuten Eagles in their 3-2 interleague win over the Yomiuri Giants before 25,040 at rainy Kobo Park Miyagi. The right-hander allowed six hits and a walk and finished his night with 129 pitches.
Although the Giants were able to put the bat on his fastball early on, Norimoto began throwing his changeup for effect and started getting swings and misses. He struck out his sixth batter to lead off the sixth, and whiffed his ninth with his 114th pitch of the evening. Norimoto wrapped up his evening by striking out the side in the eighth.