Fastest 156 km/h! Hsu Jo-Hsi tosses 6 innings with 4 Ks in a quality start; SoftBank edges out Yokohama in a thrilling 12-inning comeback victory

Hsu Jo-Hsi, a pitcher for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball, made his sixth start of the season on June 7, pitching on the road in an interleague game against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars. He threw six innings, surrendering only two runs and unleashing a blistering 156 km/h fastball, earning another quality start. Although the team trailed when he left the mound, SoftBank's lineup tied the game in the top of the seventh inning, removing Hsu from the loss column. Ultimately, they rallied in the 12th inning to win 4-2 and hold onto their top spot in the interleague standings.

Hsu displayed dominance early, keeping the opposition scoreless through the first two innings while recording two strikeouts. However, he ran into trouble in the bottom of the third inning. With two outs, he allowed an infield single to Yokohama pitcher Shuto Ogata, then walked Tatsuo Ebina. Subsequently, Yokohama slugger Shugo Maki drilled a two-run double, putting the first runs on the board.

In the bottom of the sixth, Hsu faced another serious challenge. With one out and a runner on third, he was struck on the back of his left knee by a hard comebacker off the bat of Toshiro Miyazaki, resulting in an infield single. Hsu briefly crouched on the mound, unable to stand, before the trainer checked on him and allowed him to leave for quick treatment. Fortunately, he was not seriously hurt. Hsu continued pitching, escaping the jam with a rundown executed by his defense and a groundout from the next batter, preventing any further damage with runners on first and third.

Overall, Hsu threw 93 pitches over six innings, allowing six hits, striking out four, walking two, and giving up two runs. His ERA dropped to 4.99.

Since this game was played at a Central League ballpark, Hsu also experienced his first career at-bats as a pitcher. In the top of the third inning, batting ninth, he stepped to the plate for the first time. Facing Yokohama starter Shuto Ogata, he watched six straight fastballs without swinging and was called out on strikes. In his second at-bat in the top of the fifth, with one strike, he swung and missed at two fastballs exceeding 150 km/h, striking out again. Interestingly, the broadcast captured Hsu smiling in the batter's box after the second strikeout, adding an unexpected lighthearted moment to the tense game.

SoftBank's offense began its comeback in the middle innings. In the top of the fourth, a combination of hits, a walk, and a hit batter loaded the bases, and Ryuta Hirose drew a walk to force in the first run. In the top of the seventh, Hsu's spot was replaced by a pinch hitter, ending his pitching duties. Then, with two outs and the bases loaded, Taisei Makihara also walked to force in the tying run, rescuing Hsu from a potential loss.

The game remained deadlocked at 2-2 through extra innings. In the top of the 12th, SoftBank pinch hitter Isamu Nomura led off with a double, followed by an infield single from Ryuta Hirose, putting runners on first and third with no outs. Yudai Shoji then executed a safety squeeze bunt to plate the go-ahead run. Subsequently, Takashi Umino added an RBI double, extending the lead to two runs.