Shun Yamaguchi grabbed the brim of his cap and looked downward as if caught up in the moment and trying to fight back tears on the hero interview stage. Then, just as the crowd began to react, the jig was up. He ripped off his cap and exclaimed "I'm not crying!"
Yamaguchi had put one over on the thousands of Giants fans in the stands. Just like he'd done to the Chunichi Dragons all night long.
Yamaguchi (8-6) dominated the Dragons and got a big helping hand from third baseman Casey McGehee as he threw the first no-hitter of the 2018 season, and first by a single pitcher since 2014, in the Yomiuri Giants' 5-0 win on Friday night at Tokyo Dome.