Right-hander Tomohiro Anraku, whose huge pitch counts as a high school ace earned him international notice, worked six scoreless innings in his first-team debut on Monday.
The 18-year-old Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles rookie walked five batters, while allowing just two hits in a 6-1 win over the Pacific League champion Fukuoka Softbank Hawks at Kobo Stadium Miyagi. Anraku (1-0), the Eagles' first-round draft pick a year ago, struck out four batters in his 94-pitch debut for the last-place Eagles.
Marines 4, Fighters 1
At QVC Marine Field, rookie Ryo Miki capped the scoring for Chiba Lotte with his first career homer, a two-run shot, as the Marines downed their first-stage playoff opponent, Hokkaido Nippon Ham, for the second straight day.