The pitching of Chunichi Dragons right-hander Mel Bunch during the first six weeks of this season reminds me of the way Terry Bross was throwing for the Yakult Swallows during the second half of 1995. If you were here then, you may recall Bross, also in his first year in Japan, posted a 5-5 record through July, then was unbeatable following the All-Star break.
Bross won his last nine decisions that year, finishing at 14-5, won the Central League ERA title with a 2.33 mark, pitched a no-hitter against the Yomiuri Giants during the pennant stretch on Sept. 9 at the Tokyo Dome, then won two games as Yakult beat the Orix BlueWave four games to one in the Japan Series.
Bunch, through May 18, was leading the Central League with a 5-1 record and 57 strikeouts, was second in the division with a 1.75 ERA and had already thrown his no-hitter. That gem came in only his second start in Japan, on April 7 at Yokohama Stadium against the usually heavy-hitting BayStars.