Fans' top picks
| Central League | Pacific League | |
|---|---|---|
| Pitcher | Masumi Kuwata (Giants) | Kimiyasu Kudo (Hawks) |
| Catcher | Atsuya Furuta (Swallows) | Kenji Johjima (Hawks) |
| First baseman | Kazuhiro Kiyohara (Giants) | Hiromitsu Ochiai(Fighters) |
| 2nd baseman | Yutaka Wada (Tigers) | Hiroki Kokubo (Hawks) |
| 3rd baseman | Shinkichi Etoh (Carp | Atsushi Kataoka (Fighters) |
| Shortstop | Teruyoshi Kuji (Tigers) | Kazuo Matsui (Lions) |
| Outfielder | Hideki Matsui (Giants) | Ichiro Suzuki (Orix) |
July 23 at the Osaka Dome
The starting pitchers for the game were 41- year old Yutaka Ohno of the Hiroshima Carp and
Kimiyasu Kudo of the Daiei Hawks.
Seibu Lions' golden head, Kazuo Matsui broke an all-star record. He succeeded in stealing base 4 times. He stole twice each in the 3rd and 6th innings. Of course, Matsui was selected MVP and earned 2 million yen. This is Matsui's first all-stars appearance.
Besides, there was an accident during the game. Tokyo Giants' Kazuhiro Kiyohara singled to the right. That's The CL's first base hit of the day. The ball smashed into the fence and the panel fell off. So Orix Blue Wave outfielders' Taguchi and Ichiro showed teamwork by putting it back up. The new Osaka Dome revealed its incompleteness.
As for the result of the game, the Pacific League overwhelmed by winning 5 to 0.
July 24 at Jingu Stadium
Japan's pop idol Ryoko Hirosue ceremoniously opened the game with her pitch.
She hurled the ball to 3-time triple crown king, Hiromitsu Ochiai of the Nippon Ham Fighters.
Now players of the Tokyo Giants were shining bright in this game. Kazuhiro Kiyohara blasted 2 homeruns. He was awarded MVP. It's his 6th in the All Stars. Kiyohara has been performing poorly during the season and he proved this time that he's not just anybody. His team mate Hideki Matsui drove his first all-star homerun into the stands.
Meanwhile, Ichiro showed that he's indeed the Pacific League star. He was the 4th batter in the PL lineup. He singled twice and stole base twice too.
In pitching, Bay Stars ace relief pitcher Kazuhiro Sasaki hurled only 9 pitches to take 3 outs in the 8th inning. South Korean star Sun Dong Yol closed the game. The Central League won this time 6 to 3.
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