<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
	xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
	>

<channel>
	<title>The Japan Times &#187; Japanese Baseball</title>
	<atom:link href="http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports_category/japanese-baseball/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp</link>
	<description>News on Japan, Business News, Opinion, Sports, Entertainment and More</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Wed, 02 Oct 2013 20:00:30 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<language>en-US</language>
	<sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
	
		<item>
		<title>Matsuoka tosses shutout against Giants</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/10/02/baseball/matsuoka-tosses-shutout-against-giants/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=matsuoka-tosses-shutout-against-giants</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/10/02/baseball/matsuoka-tosses-shutout-against-giants/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 02 Oct 2013 14:25:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Kenichi Matsuoka]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tokyo Yakult Swallows]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yomiuri Giants]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=462866</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Ninth-year right-hander Kenichi Matsuoka threw his first-career shutout, Tetsuto Yamada homered and the last-place Tokyo Yakult Swallows blanked the Central League-winning Yomiuri Giants 1-0 on Wednesday night. Matsuoka (3-3) retired the first 11 batters he faced before issuing a two-out walk to Hayato Sakamoto in the fourth at Tokyo Dome. The right-hander scattered three hits, [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/10/02/baseball/matsuoka-tosses-shutout-against-giants/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Eagles&#8217; Tanaka improves to 23-0 in magical season</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/10/01/baseball/eagles-tanaka-improves-to-23-0-in-magical-season/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=eagles-tanaka-improves-to-23-0-in-magical-season</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/10/01/baseball/eagles-tanaka-improves-to-23-0-in-magical-season/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 01 Oct 2013 14:20:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Masahiro Tanaka]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=462430</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As if on cue, the Pacific League pennant winner Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles came through for right-hander Masahiro Tanaka &#8212; and big. After being held scoreless in three consecutive games since clinching the PL title on Sept. 26, the Eagles erupted with a six-run third inning on Tuesday to give support to their ace in [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/10/01/baseball/eagles-tanaka-improves-to-23-0-in-magical-season/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Blanco homers twice as BayStars down Swallows</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/30/baseball/blanco-homers-twice-as-baystars-down-swallows/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=blanco-homers-twice-as-baystars-down-swallows</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/30/baseball/blanco-homers-twice-as-baystars-down-swallows/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Sep 2013 14:40:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Tony Blanco]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yokohama BayStars]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=461947</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Tony Blanco homered twice to drive in five runs, powering the Yokohama BayStars to a 6-3 win over the last-place Tokyo Yakult Swallows on Monday night. Yakult&#8217;s Wladimir Balentien extended his Japanese single-season record to 59 homers with a two-out solo blast that gave Yakult a 3-0 lead in the third off Tim Corcoran. But [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/30/baseball/blanco-homers-twice-as-baystars-down-swallows/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Few issues left in play as season nears finish</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/29/baseball/few-issues-left-in-play-as-season-nears-finish/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=few-issues-left-in-play-as-season-nears-finish</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/29/baseball/few-issues-left-in-play-as-season-nears-finish/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 29 Sep 2013 14:50:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Hideto Asamura]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Masahiro Tanaka]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NPB]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wladimir Balentien]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yuya Hasegawa]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=461522</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Nippon Professional Baseball has crowned its 2013 league champions and most of the spots in the Climax Series have already been spoken for. Even so, there are still a number of questions remaining and storylines to be wrapped up as the season enters the home stretch. The most important matter still on the table is [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/29/baseball/few-issues-left-in-play-as-season-nears-finish/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Otake improves to 10-10 in strong outing against Giants</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/29/baseball/otake-improves-to-10-10-in-strong-outing-against-giants/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=otake-improves-to-10-10-in-strong-outing-against-giants</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/29/baseball/otake-improves-to-10-10-in-strong-outing-against-giants/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 29 Sep 2013 14:47:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Hiroshima Carp]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kan Otake]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yomiuri Giants]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=461516</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Kan Otake threw seven shutout innings en route to notching double-digit wins for the second year in a row in the Hiroshima Carp&#8217;s 4-0 blanking of the Yomiuri Giants on Sunday. Otake (10-10) struck out five and walked one. Yuki Koyama (0-1) allowed two runs in six innings in taking the loss for the Central [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/29/baseball/otake-improves-to-10-10-in-strong-outing-against-giants/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Ogawa returning to Swallows: sources</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/29/baseball/ogawa-returning-to-swallows-sources/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=ogawa-returning-to-swallows-sources</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/29/baseball/ogawa-returning-to-swallows-sources/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 29 Sep 2013 11:39:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/29/%sports_category%/ogawa-returning-to-swallows-sources/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Junji Ogawa is set to stay on as manager of the Tokyo Yakult Swallows next season, club sources said Sunday. &#8220;I think he will accept the offer (to stay),&#8221; a source said of Ogawa, who was on a one-year contract for this season, his third as manager of the Swallows. The Swallows this year missed [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/29/baseball/ogawa-returning-to-swallows-sources/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Marines&#8217; Yabuta plans to retire</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/29/baseball/marines-yabuta-plans-to-retire/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=marines-yabuta-plans-to-retire</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/29/baseball/marines-yabuta-plans-to-retire/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 29 Sep 2013 11:39:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/29/%sports_category%/marines-yabuta-plans-to-retire/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Chiba Lotte Marines right-hander Yasuhiko Yabuta, who had a stint in the major leagues with the Kansas City Royals, will retire at the end of this season, the club said Sunday. The 40-year-old Yabuta has been hampered with a right shoulder problem and has not played for the top team this season. &#8220;I did my [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/29/baseball/marines-yabuta-plans-to-retire/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Ino goes distance as BayStars rout Giants</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/28/baseball/ino-goes-distance-as-baystars-rout-giants/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=ino-goes-distance-as-baystars-rout-giants</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/28/baseball/ino-goes-distance-as-baystars-rout-giants/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 28 Sep 2013 14:17:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Yokohama BayStars]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yomiuri Giants]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=461198</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Rookie Shoichi Ino threw his first career complete game, Takayuki Kajitani hit a two-run homer in a seven-run fourth inning, and the Yokohama BayStars routed the Central League champion Yomiuri Giants 7-2 on Saturday. Ino (5-7) yielded two runs on four hits over nine innings. Yomiuri starter Tomoyuki Sugano (13-6) allowed a career-worst seven runs [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/28/baseball/ino-goes-distance-as-baystars-rout-giants/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Third-party report on ball scandal critical of commissioner</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/27/baseball/third-party-report-on-ball-scandal-critical-of-commissioner/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=third-party-report-on-ball-scandal-critical-of-commissioner</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/27/baseball/third-party-report-on-ball-scandal-critical-of-commissioner/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Sep 2013 14:36:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[NPB]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ryozo Kato]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=460914</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[An investigating body looking into the turmoil surrounding the secret modification of Nippon Professional Baseball&#8217;s official ball, indicated Friday that commissioner Ryozo Kato is ultimately responsible. Kato, who had insisted since the start that he would not resign over the flap caused when his office ordered balls be made livelier to conform to NPB&#8217;s rules [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/27/baseball/third-party-report-on-ball-scandal-critical-of-commissioner/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Marines rout new PL champion Eagles</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/27/baseball/marines-rout-new-pl-champion-eagles/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=marines-rout-new-pl-champion-eagles</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/27/baseball/marines-rout-new-pl-champion-eagles/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Sep 2013 14:35:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dave Hueston</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Chiba Lotte Marines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=460904</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A night after breaking out the bubbly to celebrate their first ever Pacific League title, the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles were understandably in need of a collective pick-me-up during a sluggish performance against the second-place Chiba Lotte Marines. Left-hander Takahiro Matsunaga (4-1) allowed four hits and struck out six over six strong innings, Saburo Omura [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/27/baseball/marines-rout-new-pl-champion-eagles/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Carp veteran Maeda to retire</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/27/baseball/carp-veteran-maeda-to-retire/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=carp-veteran-maeda-to-retire</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/27/baseball/carp-veteran-maeda-to-retire/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Sep 2013 13:17:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Hiroshima Carp]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tomonori Maeda]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=460876</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Veteran Hiroshima Carp outfielder Tomonori Maeda on Friday said he will retire at the end of this season, his 24th with the Central League club. &#8220;It may sound like a bad thing to say, but it feels like I&#8217;m finally done with this,&#8221; the 42-year-old Maeda said. &#8220;I feel a sense of relief as if [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/27/baseball/carp-veteran-maeda-to-retire/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Eagles clinch first Pacific League title</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/26/baseball/eagles-clinch-first-pacific-league-title/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=eagles-clinch-first-pacific-league-title</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/26/baseball/eagles-clinch-first-pacific-league-title/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 26 Sep 2013 14:04:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Masahiro Tanaka]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Seibu Lions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=460393</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In a game of high drama, the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles clinched their first Pacific League pennant on Thursday night in a come-from-behind 4-3 victory over the Seibu Lions.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/26/baseball/eagles-clinch-first-pacific-league-title/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Carp reach first Climax Series</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/25/baseball/carp-reach-first-climax-series/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=carp-reach-first-climax-series</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/25/baseball/carp-reach-first-climax-series/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Sep 2013 14:46:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Climax Series]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hiroshima Carp]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=459976</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Hiroshima Carp will head to their first Climax Series after beating the Chunichi Dragons 2-0 Wednesday. Bryan Bullington (11-9) pitched seven shutout innings to lead the Carp to victory, which secured Hiroshima a top-three finish in the Central League. Brad Eldred went 3-for-3 including a two-run homer, his 13th of the season, that broke [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/25/baseball/carp-reach-first-climax-series/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Lions rally past Eagles</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/24/baseball/lions-rally-past-eagles/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=lions-rally-past-eagles</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/24/baseball/lions-rally-past-eagles/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 24 Sep 2013 14:18:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Esteban German]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[rakuten eagles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Seibu Lions]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=459518</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Shogo Akiyama and Takeya Nakamura hit back-to-back RBI singles as the Seibu Lions came from two runs down to beat rookie right-hander Takahiro Norimoto and the Pacific League-leading Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles 4-3 on Tuesday night. Facing a 2-0 deficit in the eighth, Seibu captain Takumi Kuriyama had an RBI grounder followed by singles by [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/24/baseball/lions-rally-past-eagles/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Lions pitcher Ishii plans to retire</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/24/baseball/lions-pitcher-ishii-plans-to-retire/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=lions-pitcher-ishii-plans-to-retire</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/24/baseball/lions-pitcher-ishii-plans-to-retire/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 24 Sep 2013 11:54:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/24/%sports_category%/lions-pitcher-ishii-plans-to-retire/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Seibu Lions veteran left-hander Kazuhisa Ishii announced Tuesday that he will retire at the end of the season, lowering the curtain on a 21-year career with a combined 182 wins in Japan and the major leagues. &#8220;I&#8217;ve been thinking that the time has come,&#8221; said Ishii. &#8220;I still want to win and feel like I [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/24/baseball/lions-pitcher-ishii-plans-to-retire/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Giants win pennant before beating Carp</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/23/baseball/giants-win-pennant-before-beating-carp/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=giants-win-pennant-before-beating-carp</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/23/baseball/giants-win-pennant-before-beating-carp/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Sep 2013 13:47:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=459058</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Yomiuri Giants raced out of the dugout after the final out, as streamers and confetti rained down from the stands, and tossed their manager into the air eight times. So what if the title had been secured a little more than three hours earlier? These moments don&#8217;t come around often, and the Giants were [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/23/baseball/giants-win-pennant-before-beating-carp/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Eagles move closer to Pacific League pennant</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/23/baseball/eagles-move-closer-to-pacific-league-pennant/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=eagles-move-closer-to-pacific-league-pennant</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/23/baseball/eagles-move-closer-to-pacific-league-pennant/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Sep 2013 13:47:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=459055</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Rookie Sho Miyagawa allowed just one hit in seven innings Monday as the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles beat the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters 5-0 and Japan&#8217;s newest franchise moved closer to its first Pacific League pennant. The Eagles, who began playing as an expansion team in 2005, lowered their magic number to clinch the pennant [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/23/baseball/eagles-move-closer-to-pacific-league-pennant/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Home run king Balentien nearing another conquest</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/22/baseball/home-run-king-balentien-nearing-another-conquest/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=home-run-king-balentien-nearing-another-conquest</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/22/baseball/home-run-king-balentien-nearing-another-conquest/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 22 Sep 2013 13:58:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Kenta Maeda]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Masahiro Tanaka]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wladimir Balentien]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=458669</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Wladimir Balentien has hit more home runs than any NPB player has ever hit in a single season and through Sunday had 13 games left to add to his record total which stood at 58. As if Balentien&#8217;s year wasn&#8217;t already impressive enough, the Tokyo Yakult Swallows slugger is making a run at the first [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/22/baseball/home-run-king-balentien-nearing-another-conquest/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Carp make Giants put celebration on hold</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/21/baseball/carp-make-giants-put-celebration-on-hold/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=carp-make-giants-put-celebration-on-hold</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/21/baseball/carp-make-giants-put-celebration-on-hold/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 21 Sep 2013 14:40:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Hiroshima Carp]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kenta Maeda]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yomiuri Giants]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=458387</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Hiroshima Carp ace Kenta Maeda allowed a hit in six scoreless innings in a 7-4 win over the Yomiuri Giants on Saturday, denying the defending Japan Series champs a chance to clinch the Central League pennant for at least another day. Maeda (15-5) struck out eight, walked two and did not allow a hit through [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/21/baseball/carp-make-giants-put-celebration-on-hold/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Oh &#8216;can&#8217;t imagine&#8217; being NPB head</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/21/baseball/oh-cant-imagine-being-npb-head/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=oh-cant-imagine-being-npb-head</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/21/baseball/oh-cant-imagine-being-npb-head/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 21 Sep 2013 14:38:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
		
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=458368</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Fukuoka Softbank Hawks chairman Sadaharu Oh on Friday denied reports that he could succeed Ryozo Kato as Nippon Professional Baseball Commissioner. Oh has served as special adviser to Kato, who announced a day earlier he will resign by the start of the Japan Series next month. Oh has been linked to the job by some, [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/21/baseball/oh-cant-imagine-being-npb-head/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Giants edge closer to pennant</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/19/baseball/giants-edge-closer-to-pennant/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=giants-edge-closer-to-pennant</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/19/baseball/giants-edge-closer-to-pennant/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 Sep 2013 14:47:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Chunichi Dragons]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yomiuri Giants]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=457537</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[D.J. Houlton held the Chunichi Dragons to two earned runs over six-plus innings as the Yomiuri Giants won 3-2 Thursday, meaning they could potentially capture their second straight Central League pennant this weekend. After the second-place Hanshin Tigers lost to the Hiroshima Carp, Yomiuri can now win the league as early as Saturday if the [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/19/baseball/giants-edge-closer-to-pennant/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Baseball chief Kato to step down in October</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/19/baseball/baseball-chief-kato-to-step-down-in-october/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=baseball-chief-kato-to-step-down-in-october</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/19/baseball/baseball-chief-kato-to-step-down-in-october/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 Sep 2013 14:41:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Ryozo Kato]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=457518</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Nippon Professional Baseball commissioner Ryozo Kato announced Thursday his resignation to take the fall for the uproar over the secretly altered baseball. The 72-year-old Kato, who was elected to a third two-year term in July last year, said he will quit after the regular season, which ends Oct. 6, but no later than Oct. 25 [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/19/baseball/baseball-chief-kato-to-step-down-in-october/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Egawa helps power Hawks comeback</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/18/baseball/egawa-helps-power-hawks-comeback/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=egawa-helps-power-hawks-comeback</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/18/baseball/egawa-helps-power-hawks-comeback/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 18 Sep 2013 14:16:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Fukuoka Softbank Hawks]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=457022</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Tomoaki Egawa hit a two-run homer in the eighth and drew a bases-loaded walk in the ninth as the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks overcame a six-run deficit on Wednesday to defeat the Pacific League-leading Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles 11-10. The win pushed the Hawks into second place, a half-game ahead of the Chiba Lotte Marines. &#8220;We [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/18/baseball/egawa-helps-power-hawks-comeback/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Surging Carp win seventh straight on sayonara homer</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/17/baseball/surging-carp-win-seventh-straight-on-sayonara-homer/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=surging-carp-win-seventh-straight-on-sayonara-homer</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/17/baseball/surging-carp-win-seventh-straight-on-sayonara-homer/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 17 Sep 2013 14:56:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Hiroshima Carp]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yoshiyuki Ishihara]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=456517</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Right-hander Kan Otake went the distance and Yoshiyuki Ishihara belted a sayonara home run to lift the streaking Hiroshima Carp to a 2-1 victory over the Hanshin Tigers on Tuesday evening. The Central League&#8217;s third-place Carp, who are aiming for their first postseason appearance since they lost the 1991 Japan Series, won seven straight for [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/17/baseball/surging-carp-win-seventh-straight-on-sayonara-homer/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Carp beat Giants to boost playoff hopes</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/16/baseball/carp-beat-giants-to-boost-playoff-hopes/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=carp-beat-giants-to-boost-playoff-hopes</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/16/baseball/carp-beat-giants-to-boost-playoff-hopes/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 16 Sep 2013 14:18:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Hiroshima Carp]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Yomiuri Giants]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=455951</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Hiroshima Carp capitalized on a bullpen meltdown by the Yomiuri Giants on Monday in a 5-4 victory that was the sixth straight win for the Central League&#8217;s third-place club. Chasing their first postseason appearance since they lost the 1991 Japan Series, the Carp broke the game open in a four-run eighth inning against Giants [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/16/baseball/carp-beat-giants-to-boost-playoff-hopes/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Balentien sets new Japan single-season home run record</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/15/baseball/balentien-sets-new-single-season-home-run-record-2/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=balentien-sets-new-single-season-home-run-record-2</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/15/baseball/balentien-sets-new-single-season-home-run-record-2/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 15 Sep 2013 14:35:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Tokyo Yakult Swallows]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wladimir Balentien]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=455665</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As soon as Wladimir Balentien&#8217;s bat made contact with Daiki Enokida&#8217;s fastball there was no doubt: Japan had just crowned a new home run king. And the new king&#8217;s first decree was that his record total wasn&#8217;t high enough yet. Balentien set the NPB single-season record with his 56th home run of year in the [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/15/baseball/balentien-sets-new-single-season-home-run-record-2/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Swallows snap losing streak in wild encounter with Tigers</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/14/baseball/swallows-snap-losing-streak-in-wild-encounter-with-tigers/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=swallows-snap-losing-streak-in-wild-encounter-with-tigers</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/14/baseball/swallows-snap-losing-streak-in-wild-encounter-with-tigers/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 14 Sep 2013 14:07:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Hanshin Tigers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tokyo Yakult Swallows]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wladimir Balentien]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=455240</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A prized rookie pitcher went head-to-head with a slugger on a historical pace before a fight broke out and before and a player dove across home plate to successfully execute a suicide squeeze. The most recent tilt between the Tokyo Yakult Swallows and Hanshin Tigers had just about everything. Well, everything except what most of [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/14/baseball/swallows-snap-losing-streak-in-wild-encounter-with-tigers/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Balentien still waiting as Tigers beat Swallows</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/13/baseball/balentien-still-waiting-as-tigers-beat-swallows/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=balentien-still-waiting-as-tigers-beat-swallows</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/13/baseball/balentien-still-waiting-as-tigers-beat-swallows/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 13 Sep 2013 14:06:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Hanshin Tigers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tokyo Yakult Swallows]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wladimir Balentien]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=455019</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Wladimir Balentien said getting to 55 was &#8220;the hard part&#8221; in his quest to set a new single-season home run record. From the looks of things, 56 isn&#8217;t going to be a walk in the park either. The Hanshin Tigers kept the Tokyo Yakult Swallows slugger in the yard, Takahiro Arai drove in the tiebreaking [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/13/baseball/balentien-still-waiting-as-tigers-beat-swallows/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Carp double up Swallows; Balentien remains at 55 homers</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/12/baseball/carp-double-up-swallows-balentien-remains-at-55-homers/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=carp-double-up-swallows-balentien-remains-at-55-homers</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/12/baseball/carp-double-up-swallows-balentien-remains-at-55-homers/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 12 Sep 2013 14:08:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Hiroshima Carp]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tokyo Yakult Swallows]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wladimir Balentien]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=454563</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There were plenty of balls flying out of Jingu Stadium on Thursday night. Just not the one the fans wanted to see most Tokyo Yakult Swallows slugger Wladimir Balentien didn&#8217;t go deep, but four home runs by the Hiroshima Carp, including a three-run shot by starting pitcher Yusuke Nomura, offset the pair of two-run homers [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/12/baseball/carp-double-up-swallows-balentien-remains-at-55-homers/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Balentien ties single-season home run record</title>
		<link>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/11/baseball/balentien-ties-single-season-home-run-record-2/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=balentien-ties-single-season-home-run-record-2</link>
		<comments>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/11/baseball/balentien-ties-single-season-home-run-record-2/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 11 Sep 2013 14:17:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jason Coskrey</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Hiroshima Carp]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tokyo Yakult Swallows]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wladimir Balentien]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://awsadmin.japantimes.co.jp/?post_type=sports&#038;p=454063</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Before facing the Hiroshima Carp, Wladimir Balentien and teammate Ryoji Aikawa decided they were going to go with a high-sock look, or as Balentien put it, &#8220;old-school, Sadaharu Oh-style.&#8221; He really resembled the Yomiuri Giants legend when he stroked a history-making home run into the right-field seats. Balentien sent a fastball deep to right in [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2013/09/11/baseball/balentien-ties-single-season-home-run-record-2/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>3</slash:comments>
		</item>
	</channel>
</rss>

<!-- Performance optimized by W3 Total Cache. Learn more: http://www.w3-edge.com/wordpress-plugins/

Page Caching using memcached
Database Caching 12/68 queries in 0.825 seconds using memcached
Object Caching 2133/2437 objects using memcached
Application Monitoring using New Relic

 Served from: www.japantimes.co.jp @ 2013-10-03 06:59:58 by W3 Total Cache --