Ryoji Kuribayashi's Struggles Continue as Carp Starter Allows First Run for 10th Straight Game

Ryoji Kuribayashi's struggles as a starting pitcher continued Saturday, as the Hiroshima Carp fell 7-2 to the DeNA BayStars at Mazda Stadium.

Kuribayashi allowed eight hits and four runs over five innings, taking his sixth loss of the season. More troubling for the right-hander, he surrendered the game's opening run for the 10th consecutive game.

The BayStars entered the game with considerable momentum as they continued their push toward a winning record and a Climax Series berth. Hiroshima was unable to contain their offense, while the Carp's bats remained quiet for most of the afternoon.

Kuribayashi actually started strongly.

He retired the side in order on just six pitches in the first inning, then needed only four pitches to record the first two outs of the second.

“Up to that point, I felt like I was pitching well.”

The trouble began after two outs. Kuribayashi allowed consecutive hits to Shogo Matsuo and Shota Miyashita. He then fell behind against No. 8 hitter Tomohito Inoue, who drove his first-pitch forkball into left field to give DeNA the lead.

Kuribayashi immediately regretted the pitch.

“When I looked at the lineup, the pitcher was due up next. He's a hitter who will swing at the first pitch, so I think I could have prevented it if I had been calmer and more careful.”

The third inning brought even more damage.

With no outs and a runner on first, Tomoya Ebina hit a two-strike forkball for a double down the third-base line. A groundout by Hirokazu Ibata? Wait, source says牧: Hirokazu Makita? Actually 牧秀悟 = Shugo Maki, so: Maki's grounder brought home the second run.

With two outs and a runner on second, Toshiro Miyazaki then punished a low slider, sending it into left field for a two-run homer.

Kuribayashi was left visibly frustrated by the results of his own pitching.

“Today, I couldn't keep the forkball down throughout the game, and I wasn't able to make the adjustment. If my forkball isn't working, I need to be able to attack hitters with different pitches.”

The performance comes during Kuribayashi's first season transitioning from his established role as Hiroshima's closer to the starting rotation.

Earlier in the season, he looked dominant, posting an ERA in the 0.00 range during the spring. But his season changed after he was removed from the roster in May because of discomfort in his right adductor muscle.

Since returning, early-inning struggles have become a recurring problem. Kuribayashi has now allowed runs within the first three innings in seven consecutive games, while his streak of allowing the first run of the game has reached 10 straight starts.

The right-hander recognizes that the problem cannot simply be blamed on the offense.

“Regardless of what the offense does, giving up the first run is something I need to fix. When you give up runs early, it makes the game difficult. It's been happening throughout the second half, so I have to find a way to battle through it.”

He also acknowledged that he needs to become more composed on the mound.

“I always need to stay calm and control the game, but I have to admit that I still don't have enough of that ability.”

The loss pushed Hiroshima's deficit to 19 games below .500, matching the team's season low.

The Carp's championship hopes were also on the verge of disappearing entirely, with the earliest possible mathematical elimination coming Sunday.

For Kuribayashi, however, there is little value in dwelling on the standings. His focus is now on correcting the problems in his pitching and making the most of the remaining games.

The former closer has already shown that he can dominate hitters at the highest level. The challenge now is finding a way to bring that same consistency to the starting rotation.