Sachiya Yamasaki revisited his days as a high school star at Koshien Stadium on Thursday with seven scoreless innings and an RBI single in the Nippon Ham Fighters' 6-0 interleague win over the Central League's Hanshin Tigers.
Yamasaki, who tied a tournament record with 13 hits as his high school team's slugging ace pitcher in the 2010 national spring invitational tourney, lined a high fastball for a single that drove in the game's first run.
"Memories of my amateur days came back to me, of playing ball for all you are worth," he said. "It's the ultimate feeling."
The lefty struck out eight while walking two and allowing three hits. He improved to 6-1 since leaving the three-time defending Pacific League champion Orix Buffaloes as a free agent over the winter.
Ariel Martinez and Go Matsumoto each scored twice for the visitors.
In other action on Thursday, Kazuma Okamoto's two-run home run capped a six-run third inning as the CL's Yomiuri Giants came from behind to beat the PL-leading SoftBank Hawks 6-5.
