Makoto Kurata

Makoto Kurata (倉田 誠)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 182 lb.

• High School Tsurumi High School

• Born June 3, 1946 in Minato, Tokyo Japan
• Died December 7, 2021 in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Japan

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Biographical Information

Makoto Kurata pitched for 14 seasons in Nippon Pro Baseball.

He debuted in 1965, walking both batters he faced for the Yomiuri Giants. He resurfaced in 1968, going 6-5 with a 3.35 ERA and .203 opponent average. He pitched two shutout innings in the 1968 Japan Series, won by the Giants. Kurata gave up 7 runsin 10 innings in 1969 then was 5-2 with a 0.97 ERA and .205 opponent average in 1970. He had a 4.15 ERA in the 1970 Japan Series and won game two against the Lotte Orions as Yomiuri took the title.

In 1971, the right-hander worked in 44 games, going 5-4 with a 2.51 ERA, allowing only one homer in 89 2/3 innings. As Yomiuri had complete games in four of five contests in the 1971 Japan Series, he did not appear in yet another Series win (one of a record nine straight). Kurata went 4-4 with a 4.73 ERA in 1972.

The Tokyo native had a career year in 1973, going 18-9 with a 2.74 ERA. He was second on the Giants in victories, behind Kazumi Takahashi. He was one of just three hurlers used by Yomiuri in the 5-game 1973 Japan Series, along with Takahashi and Tsuneo Horiuchi. He started game two (won by Horiuchi in relief) and game five (winning the finale), posting a 2.13 ERA overall.

Makoto fell to 5-3, 3.15 with six saves in 1974, then was 3-4 with two saves and a 2.68 ERA in 1975. THe veteran went 1-2 with a save, a 3.14 ERA amd .220 opponent average in 1976, his last season with the Giants. He allowed three runs in two innings in game three of the 1976 Japan Series; Yomiuri fell in seven to the Hankyu Braves.

Moving to the Yakult Swallows, Kurata had a 6.65 ERA and .318 average allowed in 15 outings. He was 5-2 with four saves and a 4.24 ERA in 1978. In 1979, he was 1-1 with a 3.83 ERA in 36 games. He went 2-0 with 8 runs in 7 1/3 innings in 1980, his last campaign.

Overall, Kurata had gone 55-37 with 13 saves, a 3.36 ERA and .231 opponent average in 374 games in NPB. He later was a public relations employee and equipment manager for Yomiuri.

Source: Japanbaseballdaily.com