Retirement games, or "intai shiai," are common in Japanese baseball, but the one that took place in Sendai on Aug. 9 was a most unusual occurrence.
Sayonara, Sasaki: Yokohama BayStars veteran closer Kazuhiro Sasaki strikes out longtime rival Kazuhiro Kiyohara of the Yomiuri Giants with the final pitch of his career on Aug. 9 in Sendai.
Yokohama BayStars closer Kazuhiro Sasaki made his final appearance as an active player, going out in a blaze of glory but not without controversy and some criticism over how, where and when his last trip to the mound took place.