One week after throwing Nippon Professional Baseball's first perfect game in 28 years, Roki Sasaki nearly did it again.
The Chiba Lotte right-hander struck out 14 over eight perfect innings against Nippon-Ham before being pulled. The 20-year-old struck out the side in the eighth inning while reaching 101 mph, but was lifted with the score tied 0-0 after throwing 102 pitches. Chiba Lotte would go on to lose the game, 1-0, in 10 innings.
Sasaki has retired the last 52 batters he has faced and lowered his ERA to 1.16 in four starts this season. He has allowed seven hits and two walks while striking out 56 in 31 innings pitched.