Yu Nishi’s Perfect Farewell Ends With Ryutaro Umeno Walk-Off

Yu Nishi retired from Nippon Professional Baseball with four perfect batters and three strikeouts before his longtime catcher Ryutaro Umeno delivered an 11th-inning walk-off hit, giving the Hanshin Tigers a 2-1 win over the Hiroshima Toyo Carp at Koshien Stadium on Wednesday.

Nishi needed only 12 pitches to strike out three consecutive hitters across the first and second innings. He left after retiring all four batters he faced, smiling as Umeno embraced him on the mound at the end of the final appearance of his 18-year career.

Umeno writes the final scene for his longtime pitcher

The score was still 1-1 when Hanshin opened the bottom of the 11th with a walk to pinch hitter Dan Onodera. The Tigers eventually put runners at second and third with one out before Umeno chopped an infield single in front of shortstop, bringing home the winning run.

It was the first walk-off hit of Umeno’s career. The ending carried extra weight because of his long partnership with Nishi, who joined Hanshin before the 2019 season after spending his first decade with the Orix Buffaloes.

Hanshin manager Kyuji Fujikawa met Nishi and Umeno together on the field after the run scored, putting an arm around each player as the Tigers celebrated the pitcher’s farewell victory.

Hiroshima had taken the lead in the fourth inning. Hanshin drew level in the seventh when Nozomu Takatera singled home pinch runner Kai Kumagai after Yusuke Oyama’s double.

Nishi closes an 18-year NPB career

Nishi entered professional baseball with Orix in 2009 and developed into one of Japan’s most durable starters. He finishes his career with 127 wins in 351 appearances and more than 2,100 innings pitched. His career also included more than 1,500 strikeouts and a long run of 306 consecutive starts.

The right-hander announced his retirement in late September, making Wednesday’s home game against Hiroshima his designated farewell appearance.

Hanshin’s bullpen kept the game within reach after Nishi departed. Seven relievers combined to hold the Carp to one run over the remaining 9 2/3 innings.

The victory also ensured that the Central League champions finished with a winning record against all five league opponents. Hanshin improved to 79-61-2 with one regular-season game remaining before beginning its Climax Series Final Stage preparations.