Rookie Hiromi Katayama Extends BayStars’ Historic Shutout Streak
Rookie Hiromi Katayama threw seven scoreless innings as the BayStars beat Hanshin 4-0 for a third straight Climax Series shutout.
World Baseball News Editorial Team , 2 min read 
Rookie left-hander Hiromi Katayama threw seven scoreless innings as the Yokohama DeNA BayStars beat the Hanshin Tigers 4-0 on Friday at Koshien Stadium, moving within one victory of the Japan Series.
Katayama allowed only two hits over 109 pitches in his Climax Series debut. DeNA has now shut out Hanshin in all three games of the Central League Final Stage, the first run of three consecutive shutout wins in Climax Series history.
Katayama controls Hanshin in postseason debut
Hanshin’s best early chance came in the first inning, when Takumu Nakano singled and a DeNA error put two runners aboard with one out. Katayama escaped by getting Yusuke Oyama to ground into a double play.
The 27-year-old then settled into command. He retired the Tigers in order in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings, keeping a lineup that won the Central League pennant scoreless for a third straight night.
Hanshin threatened again in the seventh after another error and Nozomu Takadera’s single put two runners on base. Katayama ended the inning by inducing Ryutaro Umeno to pop out in foul territory. Hiromu Ise struck out all three batters he faced in the eighth, and José Ruiz completed the two-hit shutout in the ninth.
Katayama became the second rookie pitcher in BayStars history to win a postseason start, following Haruhiro Hamaguchi in 2017.
Sano and Maki supply the power
Keita Sano gave DeNA all the offense it needed in the third inning. After Ryuki Watarai singled and Shugo Maki doubled, Sano drove a three-run homer to center field off Hiroto Saiki.
Maki added insurance in the eighth, leading off with a solo home run against Severino. It was Maki’s fourth homer in five games during this postseason.
DeNA finished with 10 hits while Hanshin managed only two. The BayStars have outscored the Tigers 7-0 across the first three games at Koshien, turning Hanshin’s automatic one-win advantage into a 3-1 series deficit.
The BayStars can clinch a place in the Japan Series with another victory on Saturday. Katsuki Azuma is scheduled to start for DeNA, while Hanshin is expected to send Kotaro Otake to the mound.
