Softbank's Kokubo out indefinitely

FUKUOKA — The Fukuoka Softbank Hawks' record-chasing slugger Hiroki Kokubo said Friday that he could be out for an extended period because of a herniated disc, with surgery a possibility down the line.

The 40-year-old Kokubo, who had been scheduled to rejoin the team on Tuesday, is one hit away from a career total of 2,000, but has no idea when he will be able to restart his chase.

"I don't know when I can come back," said Kokubo, who was deactivated on May 25. "There isn't even a timetable on when I can begin my rehab. All I can do right now is take my shots and rest up.

"Surgery is an option."

Kokubo said he won't be cleared to exercise for at least another week, and will be re-examined in two weeks. The Hawks' captain will also need time to get himself into game shape after the rehabilitation work is complete.

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Inaba, Kokubo should be among next to reach 2,000 hits

Staring down history: Yomiuri Giants star Alex Ramirez looks likely to join teammate Michihiro Ogasawara in Japan's 2,000-hit club, providing as he stays healthy. KYODO PHOTO

Michihiro Ogasawara finally ascended into the 2,000-hit club on May 5, getting the job done with a single up the middle against Hanshin Tigers pitcher Hiroyuki Kobayashi.

So as the club welcomes its newest member, the next question becomes, who's next?

Exempting the four active players to have already reached the milestone (active hits leader Takuro Ishii, Tomoaki Kanemoto, Tomonori Maeda and Ogasawara) there are seven current players with at least 1,700 hits.

The players to reach 2,000 in the near future will come from this group, though upon further inspection, it's likely not all of them will make it.

Going down the list in order, Fukuoka Softbank Hawks infielder Hiroki Kokubo (1,883 career hits) and Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters star Atsunori Inaba (1,867) should both get to 2,000.

Kokubo is aging and the injury bug is biting, but there is enough life left in his bat to make it to the finish line sometime next season at the latest.

Inaba might actually get there this year if health issues don't drag him down.

The Fighters veteran is still going strong and coming off back-to-back 150-hit years. Inaba has finished with at least 112 hits in each of the last seven years, playing an average of 132 games per season over that span.

Like the above-mentioned, Tokyo Yakult Swallows veteran Shinya Miyamoto (1,861) is worthy of virtual-lock status, having had at least 129 hits, and playing in more than 116 games each of the last four years. If not next season, Miyamoto should be celebrating in 2012.

Our next stop brings up the first real question mark in Chunichi Dragons catcher Motonobu Tanishige.

Tanishige has 1,824 hits, but hasn't had a 100-hit year since 2006. He's also trending downward, finishing with 90, 77, 62 and 75 hits from 2007-2010.

Also troubling is the beating he takes behind the plate for a team that's already sitting pretty in terms of corner infielders.

Tanishige, may ease his way to the mark, but it will be a laborious journey.

Yomiuri Giants outfielder Yoshitomo Tani is next on the active list with 1,820 hits, but is a longshot to reach 2,000.

The Kyojin are bursting at the seams in terms of talent and Tani's chances of being in the starting lineup on an everyday basis seem to be a thing of the past.

Talent-wise Tani can get it done, but unless he changes uniforms the plate appearances might not be there.

Rounding out the top 10 on the active list is another Giants player who should be a lock, Alex Ramirez.

Ramirez (1,738) is still raking at 35 years old and at his current pace should reach the goal sometime in late 2012 or 2013.

Ramirez is locked in on that goal and doesn't want to be remembered as having 2,000 hits combined between his career in MLB and NPB. Having risen to superstardom in Japan, the Kyojin slugger wants to record 2,000 hits in Japanese baseball alone.

The final player with at least 1,700 hits, and another who may not make it the rest of the way, is Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles slugger Takeshi Yamasaki.

Yamasaki currently has 1,721 hits. He's also 42 years old and rapidly declining.

Reunited with his old manager Senichi Hoshino this year, the veteran has showed vigor in the early stages of 2011.

His skills are leaving him though, and his value with his bat and his glove is something the team will have the assess in the very near future.

Possessing a decent power stroke, Yamasaki will remain a major player for the Eagles this year.

Still, at this stage in his career, it's likely Yamasaki will run out of gas on the road to 2,000.

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Kokubo delivers game-winning single in ninth

KAGOSHIMA — Hiroki Kokubo made his first hit of the season an unforgettable one, roping a game-winning single in the ninth inning as the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks beat the Chiba Lotte Marines 5-4 on Saturday afternoon.

Look of determination: Lions southpaw Kazuhisa Ishii fires a pitch against the Buffaloes during Saturday's game. Seibu beat Orix 4-0. KYODO PHOTO

Kokubo, who was playing in his second game of the year after returning from a right-thumb injury he sustained in the season opener, hit a two-out single to deep center with runners at first and second, bringing home Yuichi Honda for the winning run at Kamoike Stadium.

"It feels like a dream to me, I'm exhilarated," said Kokubo after lifting Softbank to its third win in a row.

"My other four at-bats weren't very good, and since I was selected to start today, I felt a lot of responsibility. I am glad we got the win," the Hawks captain said.

"My first hit of the season become a memorable one," said Kokubo, who grounded out twice, flied out and struck out swinging in his other trips to the plate.

The Hawks' Seiichi Uchikawa continued his hot hitting, going 4-for-5 with two RBIs.

Saburo Omura hit a solo homer for Lotte.

The Marines scored two runs off Softbank closer Takahiro Mahara to tie it 4-4 in the top of the ninth, but couldn't seal the deal in front of 19,002.

Lions 4, Buffaloes 0

At Osaka's Kyocera Dome, Kazuhisa Ishii dominated over seven shutout innings, Takeya Nakamura and Jose Fernandez hit solo homers and Seibu stopped a five-game skid in a win against Orix.

Takumi Kuriyama broke up a pitchers' duel with a two-run double off Shinya Nakayama (0-2) with two outs in the seventh.

The Buffaloes, who mustered just four hits, lost their fourth in five games.

Eagles 4, Fighters 3

At Kobe's Hotto Motto Field, Randy Ruiz smacked a towering homer leading off the bottom of the ninth, giving Tohoku Rakuten a "sayonara" win over Hokkaido Nippon Ham.

Ruiz worked the count to 2-2, swinging for a strike on one slider and fighting off two more from Keisuke Tanimoto (0-1) before he launched the fourth one into the seats in left-center. Rookie Manabu Mima (1-1) got his first pro win.

The Fighters saw their winning streak end at five games.

CENTRAL LEAGUE

Carp 6, Swallows 6 (9)

At Hiroshima's Mazda Stadium, Tokyo Yakult rallied from a five-run deficit to earn a tie against Hiroshima after the game ended in nine innings because of the power-saving rule implemented following the March 11 earthquake.

Swallows slugger Wladimir Balentien went 3-for-5 with two RBIs, featuring a game-tying solo blast with one out in the ninth.

BayStars at Tigers — ppd.

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