Astros starter Tatsuya Imai admits nerves in major league debut against Angels
HOUSTON (AP) — Though Tatsuya Imai made more than 100 starts in eight seasons playing professionally in Japan, he admitted to having a case of the jitters Sunday in his major league debut for the Houston Astros. “I went out there looking to have fun, but with that said, it’s a different environment from the time I was in Japan,” he said in Japanese through a translator. “I was kind of nervous, which may have been a bad thing, but it was just a different atmosphere for me.
” Imai allowed three hits and four runs with four walks and four strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings in Houston’s 9-7 win over the Los Angeles Angels . It was a disappointing debut for the three-time Japanese All-Star, who signed a three-year, $54 million contract this offseason after spending eight seasons with the Pacific League’s Seibu Lions. Manager Joe Espada was surprised that Imai walked so many batters.
“I wasn’t expecting the scattering the zone,” Espada said. “He’s shown the ability to throw strikes. So, first one, we got that one out of the way.
I’m sure that Imai can’t wait to get back on the mound. ” The Astros led by four with one out in the third when Imai walked Zach Neto before he moved to third on a single by Mike Trout. Nolan Schanuel walked to load the bases and Jorge Soler cleared them with his double to the corner in left field to get the Angels within one.
Jo Adell’s two-out RBI single tied it at 4-4 and chased Imai. The 27-year-old Imai said he had about 10 friends and family at Daikin Park on Sunday for his debut. “I wanted to perform better for them and get through five innings today, but as you saw, I threw up too many pitches in the first and second innings,” he said.