Went to the Orioles at M’s last night with Ken and Mary.
It was former Rakuten Eagle pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma’s first start in the US majors.

The M’s starting lineup also included the irrepressible Munenori Kawasaki (uncharacteristically at second) and of course Ichirio. Apparently this was the first time a US team had included three Japanese-born players in a starting lineup.

At a prior game Iwakuma graciously signed both my Eagles cap and M’s jersey.

At the game several other NPB fans struck up conversations with me, and I was somewhat amazed that I was able to hold up my end of the conversations.

There were several other folks wearing Eagles caps and or jerseys, which I was happy to see. Stupidly, I neglected to get any contact info to follow up on NPB stuff in the region.

M’s won, 6-3.