Okajima named AL Rookie of the Month Rookie reliever allowed only five hits in 12 April appearances By Caleb Breakey / MLB.com Okajima 獲選美聯當月最佳新秀 新人後援投手在四月份 12 場出賽中只讓對手敲出五支安打 By Caleb Breakey / MLB.com Most people saw this coming. Boston's rookie pitcher from Japan has some nasty stuff, sure to earn him the American League Rookie of the Month Award for April. But hold on a second -- it's not Daisuke Matsuzaka. 大部分的人都預料到了。波士頓的日本投手擁有超強的能力，足以讓他獲得四月最佳新秀 。但等一下 -- 得獎的不是 Daisuke Matsuzaka。 No, the honor and trophy belong to Red Sox reliever Hideki Okajima, the left-hander out of the 'pen whom most people don't recognize ... yet. 不是，這份榮耀是屬於紅襪後援投手 Hideki Okajama 的，許多人都不認識這位牛棚的左 投......應該是還不認識。 "I am very happy. When I came over to the U.S., the role I was thinking I would play was to be a pitcher who can pitch any time at any given moment," said Okajima, who compiled a 0.71 ERA and struck out 17 batters in 12 2/3 innings in April. "I'm being given those opportunities now, and I'm very happy to pitch in that situation." Okajima 說，＂我很高興。當我來到美國時，我覺得我可以在任何時間，任何關頭上場投 球。我現在擁有這個機會，而且我很高興能在這樣的情況上場投球。＂他在四月份 12 又 2/3 局的投球中繳出了 0.71 的自責分及 17 次的三振。 Okajima, who signed with the Red Sox during the offseason, appeared in 12 games and allowed only five hits -- one a homer -- and three walks last month. He picked up his first Major League save, against the New York Yankees, on April 20. Okajima 在非球季中與紅襪簽約，上個月出賽 12 場只被敲出五支安打 -- 其中一支是全 壘打 -- 以及三次保送。他在四月 20 日對紐約洋基的比賽中，拿到了第一次救援成功。 But the 31-year-old's career in the U.S. didn't start the way Boston had hoped. Okajima gave up a home run to Royals catcher John Buck on his first pitch of the season. Ever since then, Okajima has proved one thing over and over: He belongs. 但這位 31 歲投手在美國職業生涯的起步卻跟波士頓預期的不同。Okajima 在球季所投出 的第一球便被皇家的捕手 John Buck 擊出了全壘打。但從此之後，Okajima 一再的證明一 件事：他屬於大聯盟。 "When I gave up the home run to him, I thought, 'Wow, Major League batters are really great,' " Okajima said. "Because of that one pitch, now I've been able to get this far. That pitch was a good chance for me to learn what I need to do to have success in the Major Leagues. It made me rethink what way I can pitch in the U.S. and be successful. The result of that is where I am and how I'm pitching." Okajima 說，＂當我被擊出全壘打時，我想，’哇，大聯盟的球員好強。’因為那一球， 我才能到達現在的境界。那一球讓我有很好的機會學習我該如何在大聯盟有成就。那讓我 重新思考我要以何種方式在美國成功的投球。而結果就是現在的我以及我投球的方式。＂ Okajima proved that he's not just an early-season star on the evening of April 20, when manager Terry Francona brought him in for his save against the Yankees. He made those guys in pinstripes look pretty uncomfortable at the plate. 四月 20 日的下午，對上洋基的比賽中總教練 Terry Francona 派他上場救援，Okajima 證明他並不只是季初的明星。他讓那些穿著 pinstripes 的傢伙在打擊區十分不好過。 Armed with a sneaky fastball, a curveball and a changeup that has surprised some of Boston's coaches, Okajima has made the Red Sox front office look brilliant. 擁有著能竄進好球帶的速球，曲球，以及一顆令波士頓教練也十分驚訝的變速球， Okajima 讓紅襪決策團隊顯得十分精明。 "We knew he was a left-handed pitcher that had command," said pitching coach John Farrell. "But we saw him more as a fastball-curveball guy based on the scouting reports and video that we watched. The biggest surprise is how he's brought along his changeup, really a split change that's given him a pitch that's got later action and good arm speed and deception with it. To me, right now, it's probably the most effective pitch of his three-pitch mix." 投手教練 John Farrell 說，＂我們知道他是個控球不錯的左投。但從球探報告以及錄影 帶來看，我們以為他是個以速球及曲球交互使用的投手。而他的變速球真是個大驚喜，那 銳利的變速球在非常靠近本壘時才產生變化，搭配他極佳的手臂速度，而產生了欺騙的效 果。現在對我而言，這三種球路的搭配是最有效的投球方式。＂ Okajima laughed when he heard that Yankees first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz said he should be Boston's MVP for April. Okajima knew it was early for statements like that. 當 Okajima 聽到洋基一壘手 Doug Mienkiewicz 說他應該是波士頓四月的最有價值球員 時，他哈哈大笑。Okajima 知道現在說這個還太早。 "If I heard that at the end of the season, I would be very happy to hear that," Okajima said. "I will stay humble, and I will keep working hard to continue the success." Okajima 說，＂如果我是在球季末聽到這個，我會很高興。我會保持謙虛，並且努力保持 成功。＂ Akinori Iwamura of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays finished a close second in the voting to Okajima. Also receiving votes in the American League were Matsuzaka, Delmon Young of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Angels pitcher Dustin Moseley, Adam Lind of the Toronto Blue Jays and Joakim Soria of the Kansas City Royals. 坦帕灣魔鬼魚的 Akinori Iwamura 的票數只落後 Okajima 一些。Matsuzaka，坦帕灣魔鬼 魚的 Delmon Young，天使的投手 Dustin Moseley，多倫多藍鳥的 Adam Lind 及堪薩斯皇 家的 Joakim Soria 也都有獲得選票。 Caleb Breakey is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. --

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