▁m ound , ▁kick ing ▁the ▁d irt ▁repeatedly ▁and ▁even ▁shed ding ▁tears ▁after ▁the ▁third ▁intent ional ▁walk . ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 1 , ▁he ▁finished ▁with ▁a ▁ 4 . 0 2 ▁E RA , ▁the ▁highest ▁of ▁his ▁career . ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 2 , ▁he ▁reb ounded , ▁leading ▁the ▁Central ▁League ▁in ▁wins ▁and ▁collected ▁his ▁second ▁S aw am ura ▁Award . ▁After ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 2 ▁season , ▁he ▁represented ▁Japan ▁in ▁the ▁Major ▁League ▁Baseball ▁Japan ▁All - Star ▁Series ▁and ▁on ▁November ▁ 1 1 ▁became ▁the ▁first ▁pitch er ▁in ▁over ▁a ▁year ▁to ▁strike ▁out ▁Barry ▁B onds ▁three ▁consecutive ▁times ▁in ▁one ▁game . ▁This ▁achiev ement ▁raised ▁his ▁profile ▁in ▁American ▁Major ▁League ▁Baseball . ▁ ▁He ▁was ▁injured ▁before ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 7 ▁season ▁which ▁made ▁him ▁a ▁late ▁appearance , ▁and ▁in ▁that ▁season , ▁he ▁became ▁a ▁closer ▁instead , ▁recorded ▁a ▁ 1 . 7 4 ▁E RA ▁with ▁ 4 ▁wins , ▁ 3 ▁losses , ▁and ▁ 3 2 ▁saves . ▁Though ▁showing ▁a ▁good ▁ability ▁both ▁starting ▁and ▁closing , ▁he ▁returned ▁as ▁a ▁starting ▁pitch er ▁in ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 8 ▁season . ▁He ▁left ▁the ▁Gi ants ▁after ▁that ▁season ▁becoming ▁a ▁free ▁agent ▁and ▁allowing ▁him ▁to ▁play ▁in ▁Major ▁League ▁Baseball . ▁ ▁U eh ara ▁assert ed ▁his ▁preference ▁in ▁public ▁to ▁be ▁transferred ▁to