King right-hander Neo Purificacion delivers en route to a 5-3 no-hit victory over Perry, the 15th no-hitter pitched in the Pacific this season. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
SASEBO, Japan – Two more no-hitters were thrown on Japan’s baseball diamonds on Saturday, increasing the total in the Pacific season to 15.
Neo Purificacion survived eight walks and three third-inning runs, but settled down to quell the rally as E.J. King outlasted Matthew C. Perry 5-3 at Nimitz Park. The Samurai beat the Cobras 8-2 in the second game of Saturday’s twin bill.
At Camp Humphreys, Donovan Brown, Bradley Miller and Eric Ji combined to allow six runs, nine walks and three hit batsmen, but did not give up a hit as Humphreys hung on for a 7-6 win over Jeongnam, a Korean high school team.
Purificacion had struggled with arm issues earlier in the season, Cobras coach Matthew Carl said, but has righted the ship and got his first win of the season Saturday. He threw 75 pitches, 32 for strikes.
“He’s 100 percent healthy now and it’s great to see him stack up that win especially near the end of the season,” Carl said. “I’m so proud of that kid. His last home game, senior day, it was fantastic.”
The no-hitter summed up the season for the Cobras, Carl said. They got off to a slow start but have won three of their last four games to improve to 4-13 on the season.
“The guys had a rough start, but they never quit and stayed the course,” Carl said. “It’s so big for the kids, too. It’s a young squad, it’s a rebuilding season, seven seniors graduated, but they believe. I’m proud of them.”
At Blackhawks Field, Humphreys got its sticks going early on, scoring seven combined runs in the first two innings before Jeongnam whittled away at the lead late.
Brown gave up a walk and struck out five while hitting two batters, Miller allowed six free passes and Ji walked two, hit a batter and fanned three. The three hurlers threw 100 pitches, 46 for strikes.
Beckett Babb led the Blackhawks at bat with two hits and an RBI and Ji helped himself with two doubles.
King's Neo Purificacion takes his swings against Perry. (Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)
