KND Report: Fukudome's dinger is only blemish on Kawakami's brilliant start

July 9, 12:56 AMAsian-American Sports ExaminerMichael Street

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Kawakami dazzled tonight against every Cub but Kosuke Fukudome.
(AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

In a battle of former Chunichi Dragons, a hot Kosuke Fukudome managed to rock his former teammate for a solo homer, but Kenshin Kawakami had the last laugh, as Fukudome's shot was the only run he gave up in six innings, and his Braves beat the Cubs, 4-1.

Kawakami had struggled in one start since taking a line drive off his neck on June 24, while Fukudome has been hitting very well since being promoted to the leadoff spot over the weekend.

The scary moment for the Braves starter happened in the third inning of a start against the Yanks, when Joba Chamberlain's liner back up the middle smacked him on the side of the neck.

He left the game, but was judged healthy enough to make his next start against the Nationals on July 3. Kawakami managed to complete four innings, giving up 5 runs (4 earned) on 6 H and 3 BB, though the 6 Ks were a good sign.

Fukudome, on the other hand, was recently promoted to the leadoff spot, replacing the struggling Alfonso Soriano. He'd gotten a hit in three of the four games since, with two of those hits going for extra bases.

So it would have seemed that the Cubs had the Asian advantage going into tonight's game.

Guess Kawakami didn't get that memo.

The first time he faced Fukudome, his former teammate fought back from a 1-2 count to work a walk, but Kawakami got Ryan Theriot to ground into a double play and erase Fukudome. Derrek Lee grounded out to end the inning, and Kawakami cruised through the next six batters, retiring them in order.

Facing Fukudome in the fourth, Kawakami won the battle—Fukudome again worked a full count, but flied out to right. The next batter, Theriot, collected the Cubs' first hit of the game, and Aramis Ramirez got another single two hitters later. But Kawakami got an out in between them by striking out Lee, and Milton Bradley grounded out for the third out of the inning.

Kattobase Nihonjin Dairigaa!

Fukudome allowed a walk without any damage in the fifth, and so his slate was clean when he faced Fukudome for the third time leading off the sixth inning.

This time, there was no full count, as Kosuke jumped on the first pitch from his former Dragon teammate and poked an opposite-field home run over the basket in left.

Kawakami retired the next three batters, and was lifted for a reliever to start the seventh after he compained of some shoulder soreness. When asked about it after the game, he said simply, "OK. Fine. No problem." It's a problem he's dealt with all season, and isn't judged to be serious.

The Braves held the lead, 2-1, heading into the top of the ninth. Fukudome game a run back in the frame when he misplayed a ball in center, allowing Nate McLouth to score from first on what should have been a soft single to center by Martin Prado.Prado reached third on the error, then scored on a wild pitch.

Atlanta's Rafael Soriano would shut down the Cubs in the bottom of the ninth to seal the win for Kenshin Kawakami, who acknowledged his former teammate. "He might have taken half of my happiness away today," he said, laughing.

The Cubs' Jake Fox acknowledged Kawakami in return. "You've got to tip your cap to him for a great ballgame."

Kawakami has pitched quite a string of good games. Going into tonight's game, he'd given up three runs or fewer in five of his past six games, though Atlanta's anemic offense hasn't been enough to earn him more than one win in that span.

Both he and Fukudome have something to build off in tonight's game, and Asian-American sports fans hope that both can continue to improve—but the two will do it on separate paths, as they will not meet again in the 2009 regular season.

Follow their progress, and all the Asian baseball stars, here on the Asian-American Sports Examiner!