Chiba Lotte Marine's Sasaki Pitches Japan's First Perfect Game In 28 Years
Chiba Lotte Marines player Sasaki Roki became the 16th pitcher to throw a perfect game in Japanese professional baseball, the first to achieve this feat in 28 years.
Sasaki also struck out 13 batters in a row, breaking the previous record of nine set 64 years ago.
Sasaki was the starting pitcher in Sunday's game against the Orix Buffaloes at the Marines' home stadium in Chiba City, east of Tokyo. He threw fastballs of up to 164 kilometers per hour, equal to his personal best.
His strikeout streak started with Buffaloes' third batter Yoshida Masataka in the first inning, and ended with the third batter in the fifth inning.
Sasaki kept up the velocity of his fastball and achieved a perfect game by striking out pinch hitter Sugimoto Yutaro in the ninth inning, marking his 19th strikeout of the game.
The previous perfect game was achieved by Makihara Hiromi, a former pitcher with the Yomiuri Giants, in 1994.
Sasaki also tied the record for the number of strikeouts in a single game set 27 years ago.