There's just something about May that brings out the best in Toshiya Sugiuchi.
After a slow start to the season, the Softbank pitcher enjoyed a renaissance in May, putting the finishing touches on one of the best months Japanese baseball has seen in a long time with a five-hit, eight-strikeout complete-game drubbing of the Yomiuri Giants on May 31.
That performance came in front of the Hawks' injured star pitcher Kazumi Saito.