Hanshin Tigers prospect Keito Mombetsu threw five perfect innings to lead his team to a 3-0 win over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday in the first of four exhibition games between MLB and Nippon Professional Baseball teams.
The warmup games will be followed by the MLB season-opening series between the Cubs and the Los Angeles Dodgers in Tokyo on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Mombetsu, a 20-year-old left-hander who has not won a game in his seven-game NPB career, shut down a Chicago lineup that included Kyle Tucker and Seiya Suzuki at Tokyo Dome.
The Cubs managed only three hits. Miguel Amaya was the first Cub to reach base with a one-out single in the sixth inning.
Suzuki and Michael Busch also singled later in the game.
"I prepared well to start the game in usual fashion," Mombetsu said. "(Catcher Ryutaro) Umeno-san called a great game, so I just needed to follow his signals."
"I hope to get my first win out of the way once the season starts. And then I'll try to be in postgame interviews like this more."
The Tigers, managed by former Cubs reliever Kyuji Fujikawa, scored one run in each inning between the third and fifth.
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