HIROSHIMA -- Outfielder Yoshihiro Maru, who moved from Central League champion Hiroshima Carp to the Yomiuri Giants as a high-profile free agent, got off to an inauspicious start with his new team -- much to the delight of his former fans who were there to see it.
Maru struck out in four consecutive at-bats as the Giants opened the season on Friday night with a 5-0 loss to the Carp at Hiroshima's Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium.
Maru had a chance to salvage his Giants debut when he made his fourth trip to the plate in the eighth inning, coming up with runners on first and second, one out and the Giants trailing 1-0.
But he struck out looking at a low, outside fastball from Carp starter Daichi Osera, who allowed seven hits over eight innings to pick up the win.
"He threw very few pitches into my power zone," Maru said. "It was disappointing, but I have to put it behind me. I want to straighten things out today."
Maru spent nine seasons with the Carp, who have won the past three Central League pennants. He has a career batting average of .280 with 147 home runs and 540 RBIs.
In Friday's game, Tomohiro Abe hit a solo homer in the third inning for the Carp, who put the game away with a four-run eighth inning.
Caption: The Giants' Yoshihiro Maru reacts after looking at a called third strike in the eighth inning against the Carp in Hiroshima on Friday night.
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