Thousands of blue-clad fans braved the elements on a cool, gray and rainy afternoon in order to support the Yokohama DeNA BayStars in their playoff opener at Yokohama Stadium.
Veteran slugger Yoshitomo Tsutsugo helped make sure they went home happy.
Tsutsugo hit a pair of home runs, and the BayStars took a quick and commanding lead in the first stage of the Central League Climax Series with a 6-2 win over the Yomiuri Giants in Game 1 on Saturday.
“It was electric,” starting pitcher Anthony Kay said. “The fans really brought the energy. Didn’t know how it was going to be with all the rain.”
The defending Japan Series champions seized a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series. Game 2 is scheduled for Sunday in Yokohama. The team that wins the opener has gone on to win the series 88% of the time.
A day earlier, DeNA manager Daisuke Miura spoke about the importance of scoring the first run in the game.
Tsutsugo apparently took the message to heart, giving the BayStars an early lead with a solo home run in the second inning.
“That home run gave us momentum and got things going our way,” Miura said.
That was just the start for Tsutsugo, who added an RBI single in the third and another solo home run in the sixth. He capped his big day with a single in the eighth to finish 4-for-4.
Tatsuo Ebina, Yudai Yamamoto and Shugo Maki also recorded RBIs for the BayStars. DeNA outhit Yomiuri 8-2.
“Each player understood his role,” Miura said. “They did what they could do at the plate, whether it was drawing walks or driving in runs.”
Kay pitched seven strong innings, allowing two runs on two hits in the wet conditions. He struck out eight and walked four.
“It took a little while to get into a groove,” Kay said. “Had to adjust a little bit to the mound and the rain, but thankfully was able to do that and cruise a little bit.
Kay allowed a two-run home run to Gakuto Wakabayashi with one out in the third and allowed just one baserunner over the rest of his outing.
Giants starting pitcher Iori Yamasaki had been 14-4 in his career against the BayStars, including going 4-1 with a 2.49 ERA in seven starts against DeNA this year.
He could not improve on those numbers in Game 1, allowing four runs over six innings.
The season will be on the line for the Kyojin in Game 2.
Manager Shinnosuke Abe will entrust Shosei Togo with the start, while Andre Jackson is scheduled to toe the rubber for the BayStars.
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