Yusei Kikuchi admitted that his recent efforts have been unsuccessful, joining the 1000 strikeout club but suffering a heavy 7-run defeat.

Angels lefty Yusei Kikuchi took the mound as a starter at Angel Stadium today, striking out the Athletics’ first batter Shea Langeliers to reach a milestone of 1000 career strikeouts. Yet his performance faltered soon after, lasting just two innings while allowing 7 runs before exiting. The Angels suffered a crushing 4-17 loss and are now at risk of finishing at the bottom of their division.

Kikuchi began his MLB career with the Mariners in 2019 and has played seven seasons with the Blue Jays, Astros, and Angels. Before today’s game, he had 999 career strikeouts. He reached 1000 strikeouts in the top of the first inning but by the end of the second inning had given up 6 hits and 4 walks (including one hit by pitch), allowing 7 runs and taking the loss, marking his highest runs allowed in a single game this season.

Kikuchi recorded only one strikeout in this game, which came against Langeliers in the first inning. This 163rd strikeout of the season was also his 1000th career strikeout, placing him among Japanese MLB pitchers like Darvish (2055 K), Nomo (1918 K), and Maeda (1055 K) as the fourth member of the “1000 K Club.” Another Asian pitcher to reach this milestone is retired Korean star Park Chan-ho (1715 K).

Despite the milestone, Kikuchi showed no signs of joy. His record this season dropped to 6 wins and 11 losses, with an ERA of 4.18. The Angels currently hold only a half-game lead over the Athletics in the AL West. The two teams will face off for the final time this season tomorrow, and if the Angels lose again, they will fall to last place.

Before the All-Star break, Kikuchi had a 3.11 ERA over 20 starts, but after the break, his ERA ballooned to 6.66 in 10 starts. He confessed, “My recent games haven’t gone as I planned, which has been tough. I’ve been trying different things, but nothing seems to work. I will keep working hard to get through this rough patch.”