MILWAUKEE (AP) — Norichika Aoki hit an inside-the-park home run in the fourth inning of the Milwaukee Brewers’ game against the Colorado Rockies on Friday, the first major league homer for the former Japanese baseball batting champion.
Aoki hit a sharp liner off Rockies starter Jhoulys Chacin, and the ball scooted past the outstretched glove of diving left fielder Carlos Gonzalez. The ball went to the wall, where there was a brief moment of indecision between Gonzalez and center fielder Dexter Fowler about who should pick it up. Aoki continued to cruise around the basepaths and was able to score standing up.
The Brewers signed Aoki in the offseason after being awarded negotiating rights with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. He is a three-time Central League batting champion.
