MLB ドジャースの山本由伸投手は対ナショナルズ戦で６度目の先発に臨み、６回４安打無失点、１四球、７三振で２勝目を挙げました。
その５回には先頭のロサリオのピッチャー返しを好捕。打球速度は約１６８・７キロで顔に向かって一直線に飛んできたボールを見事にグラブに収めました。
試合後「スポーツネット・ロサンゼルス」でレポーターを務めるキルステン・ワトソンのインタビューに答えた山本投手は
With that combacker for you to defend yourself first just so well but also to settle in for those next strikeouts. What is...just your reaction in that moment, making that play... uh... and then continuing to get positive results...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1urNEewNyo
comebackerは無論，「ピッチャー返し」です。Cambridge Dictionaries は "in baseball, a ball that a batter hits back in the direction of the pitcher (= the player who throws the ball): He was hit on the foot by a comebacker.と定義しています。
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/ja/dictionary/english/comebacker
あの好捕は理屈ではなく，超人的な反射神経のなせる技です。顔面直撃，故障者リスト入りという最悪の展開にならす，まずは一安心。ちなみに大谷選手は今日は審判と合わなかったのか，タコでした。（UG）
PS 試合前の前振りですが，take the ball（先発する）はtake up the ballではないかと...
Dodgers vs. Nationals game VI chat
The Los Angeles Dodgers wrap up their 2024 proceedings with the Washington Nationals looking to return the favor of their series loss at Dodger Stadium with the bonus of playing for the sweep at Nats Park.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto will take the ball for the visiting team, opposed by the former top farmhand of the Padres, a significant piece in the first Juan Soto trade, Mackenzie Gore.
Will Smith gets the day off with Austin Barnes behind the plate as Dave Roberts opts for a platoon-heavy lineup, benching both Gavin Lux and James Outman while giving Max Muncy a breather.
https://www.truebluela.com/24140395/dodgers-nationals-game-chat