Ren Mukunoki, the Orix Buffaloes' top draft pick last fall, allowed his only hit with two outs and two strikes in the ninth inning in a 2-0 Pacific League win over the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters on Wednesday.
Nippon Ham's Ryusei Sato lined a high 2-2 slider to center to break up the rookie right-hander's bid for history at Kyocera Dome Osaka. There hare been four no-hitters thrown this season, which is tied for second most in a single Japanese pro season. Japan does not record no-hitters when a run is allowed.
The 22-year-old Mukunoki (2-0), making the second start of his career, struck out 11 while walking three in his 116-pitch outing. He allowed two hits over six scoreless innings in his July 7 debut.