Shohei Otani threw six shutout innings to claim his second win of the season as the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters defeated the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles 8-0 on Sunday in the Pacific League.
The 21-year-old, who threw two 162 kph pitches in his last start a week earlier and has hit eight home runs so far this season as a part-time designated hitter, allowed three hits and two walks, striking out six in a 96-pitch outing for his first win at Sapporo Dome this season.
Otani's start, however, was noticeable for the large number of curves and sliders and the scarcity of his splitter — a pitch he has had difficulty commanding this season.