Yusei Kikuchi overcame an awkward start to strike out 11 batters over eight innings as the Seibu Lions whipped the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles 8-1, extending their win streak to 12 games.
Before 20,355 at MetLife Dome, Kikuchi (11-4) stumbled covering first base on the game's first play, but showed no ill effects as he dominated the Eagles' lineup. The lefty allowed a run on three hits and a walk and hit a career-high 158 km per hour on a pitch to Zelous Wheeler in the fifth inning.
"My teammates gave me three runs in the first and I could settle in and pitch," Kikuchi said. "Last year, or rather every year, I have issues with walks, and every offseason that's a focus for me. It seems like I've been making progress."