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Japanese pitcher Okajima

TOKYO, Japan - Undated file photo shows Japanese left-hander Hideki Okajima, a former Boston Red Sox reliever. Okajima has agreed to terms with the New York Yankees on a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training, an article on the Yankees' website said Dec. 28, 2011.

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Boston Red Sox beats Tampa Bay Rays 5-3 in opening game

BOSTON, United States - Boston Red Sox setupper Hideki Okajima pitches in the eighth inning of an opening game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park in Boston on April 7. Okajima gave up two runs but the Red Sox won 5-3.

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Red Sox collects donation for Japan quake victims

FORT MYERS, United States - Boston Red Sox pitcher Hideki Okajima (R) collects donations for Japan's earthquake victims from baseball fans ahead of a game at a ballpark in Fort Myers, Florida, on March 17, 2011.

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Red Sox players collect Japan quake donation

FORT MYERS, United States - The Boston Red Sox's Japanese players -- (from L) Junichi Tazawa, Itsuki Shoda, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima -- hold charity boxes for earthquake and tsunami victims in Japan on March 14, 2011, in Fort Myers, Florida. The collected donations will be sent to Japan through the American Red Cross.

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Red Sox's Okajima vs. Mariners

SEATTLE, United States - Boston Red Sox pitcher Hideki Okajima throws against the Seattle Mariners in the seventh inning of a game at Safeco Field in Seattle, Washington, on Sept. 14, 2010. Okajima did not allow any hits or runs after relieving starter Daisuke Matsuzaka from the seventh inning.

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Red Sox's Okajima picks up win against Mariners

SEATTLE, United States - Boston Red Sox reliever Hideki Okajima pitches during a game against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field in Seattle on July 22, 2010. Okajima picked up the win after throwing two scoreless innings in the Red Sox's 8-6, 13-inning win.

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Boston's Okajima pitches vs Rays

ST. PETERSBURG, United States - The Boston Red Sox's Hideki Okajima throws against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field in Florida on May 24, 2010. Okajima pitched two scoreless innings in the club's 6-1 victory.

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Red Sox reliever Okajima throws scoreless 9th against Tigers

DETROIT, United States - Boston Red Sox reliever Hideki Okajima pitches in the ninth inning of a game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park in Detroit on May 14, 2010. Okajima threw a scoreless ninth in a 7-2 rout of the Tigers.

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Red Sox's Okajima pitches against Blue Jays

BOSTON, United States - Boston Red Sox reliever Hideki Okajima pitches in the ninth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park in Boston on May 11, 2010. Okajima finished the game with one scoreless inning, helping pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka earn a win in the Red Sox's 6-1 victory.

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Red Sox's Okajima pitches perfect 7th against the Blue Jays

BOSTON, United States - Boston Red Sox set-upper Hideki Okajima returns to the team's dugout after pitching a perfect seventh against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park on May 10, 2010. The Red Sox won 7-6.

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Red Sox's Okajima pitches perfect 7th against the Blue Jays

BOSTON, United States - Boston Red Sox set-upper Hideki Okajima pitches in the seventh inning of a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park in Boston on May 10, 2010. Okajima pitched a perfect seventh as the Red Sox won 7-6.

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Red Sox's Okajima pitches

TORONTO, Canada - Boston Red Sox reliever Hideki Okajima pitches in the eighth inning of a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre in Toronto on April 26, 2010. Okajima got a no-decision as the Red Sox outslugged the Blue Jays 13-12.

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Red Sox's Okajima pitches

TORONTO, Canada - Boston Red Sox reliever Hideki Okajima pitches during the eighth inning of a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre in Toronto on April 26, 2010. Okajima got a no-decision as the Red Sox outslugged the Blue Jays 13-12.

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Red Sox's Okajima gives up 2 runs against Orioles

BOSTON, United States - Boston Red Sox reliever Hideki Okajima pitches during the seventh inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park in Boston on April 25, 2010. Okajima allowed two runs -- a two-run homer to Miguel Tejada -- in 1-1/3 innings in a 7-6, 10-inning loss to the Orioles.

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Red Sox's Okajima plays in season opener

BOSTON, United States - Boston Red Sox reliever Hideki Okajima pitches against the New York Yankees during the seventh inning of the opening game of the baseball season on April 4, 2010, at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. Okajima threw a scoreless inning as the Red Sox beat the Yankees 9-7.

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Red Sox's Okajima plays in season opener

BOSTON, United States - Boston Red Sox right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka (2n from L) greets teammate Hideki Okajima (37) during a season opening ceremony on April 4, 2010, at Fenway Park in Boston. Matsuzaka, on a 15-day disabled list, did not play in the opening game against the New York Yankees.

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Okajima pitches against Minnesota

FORT MYERS, United States - Boston Red Sox pitcher Hideki Okajima pitches against the Minnesota Twins during an exhibition game in Fort Myers, Florida, on March 23, 2010.

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Red Sox pitcher Matsuzaka takes part in training camp

FORT MYERS, United States - Boston Red Sox pitcher Hideki Okajima warms up on the first day of the club's pitchers and catchers training camp in Fort Myers, Florida, on Feb. 20, 2010.

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Red Sox pitcher Matsuzaka takes part in training camp

FORT MYERS, United States - Boston Red Sox pitcher Hideki Okajima warms up on the first day of the club's pitchers and catchers training camp in Fort Myers, Florida, on Feb. 20, 2010.

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Red Sox's Okajima picks up win against Blue Jays

BOSTON, United States - Boston Red Sox reliever Hideki Okajima pitches in the eighth inning in a game against Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park in Boston to picked up the win after retiring the only batter he faced in the eighth inning of a 6-5 victory over the Blue Jays.

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Red Sox Okajima throws perfect 8th inning

BOSTON, United States - Red Sox left-hander Hideki Okajima hurls the ball to throw a perfect eighth inning in a match against the Seattle Mariners. The Mariners beat the Red Sox 3-2.

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Boston lefty Okajima gets 3rd win

PHILADELPHIA, United States - Boston Red Sox lefty Hideki Okajima throws against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on June 13. Okajima got his third win of the season giving up one run in two innings in his team's 11-6 victory.

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Boston pitcher Okajima's scoreless streak reaches 12 games

MINNEAPOLIS, United States - Boston Red Sox pitcher Hideki Okajima throws against the Minnesota Twins in the eighth inning of their game at the Metrodome in Minneapolis on May 28. Okajima from Japan pitched the inning giving up no runs, extending his scoreless streak to 12 pitching appearances since April 25.

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Boston Red Sox pitcher Okajima against Tampa Bay Rays

BOSTON, the United States - Boston Red Sox pitcher Hideki Okajima came in to pitch in the seventh inning to make a no-hit against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts, on May 8.

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Boston Red Sox beat Baltimore Orioles 12-1

BOSTON, United States - The Boston Red Sox's Hideki Okajima pitches in the seventh inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park in Boston on April 20.

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Red Sox Okajima pitches against N.Y. Mets

NEW YORK, United States - Boston Red Sox's Hideki Okajima pitches against the New York Mets in the seventh inning of a preseason exhibition game at Citi Field in New York on April 3. Okajima struck out three batters in order.

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Okajima plays in minor league game

FORT MYERS, United States - Boston Red Sox pitcher Hideki Okajima plays in a minor league game in Fort Myers, Florida, on March 31 to tune up before the opening of the major league baseball season.

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Rays advanced to World Series for 1st time in team history

ST. PETERSBURG, United States - Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Hideki Okajima throws to the Tampa Bay Rays in the eighth inning of their Game 7 of the American League Championships at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Oct. 19. The Rays advanced to the World Series by beating the Red Sox 3-1.

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Red Sox beat Rays 4-2 in Game 6 of AL Championship Series

ST. PETERSBURG, United States - Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Hideki Okajima of Japan leaves the mound after pitching two scoreless sixth and seventh innings of a game against the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Oct. 18. The Red Sox won 4-2.

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Red Sox beat Rays 8-7 in Game 5 of AL Championship Series

BOSTON, United States - Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Hideki Okajima of Japan throws against the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park in Boston on Oct. 16. Red Sox won 8-7.

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Red Sox beat Rays 8-7 in Game 5 in AL Championship Series

BOSTON, United States - Boston Red Sox starter Daisuke Matsuzaka (C) is relieved by Hideki Okajima (R) after being taken out of a game by manager Terry Francona (L) in the fifth inning of Game 5 of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park in Boston on Oct. 16.

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MLB World Series victory ring presented to Boston players

BOSTON, United States - Boston Red Sox pitcher Hideki Okajima (front) smiles with a box containing a diamond-adorned ring commemorating the team's victory in the World Series in 2007 after a ring presentation ceremony at Fenway Park in Boston on April 8. (Pool photo by Kyodo News)

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Red Sox Matsuzaka rolls over Athletics for 1st season win

OAKLAND, United States - Boston Red Sox reliever Hideki Okajima pitches in the seventh inning of a game against the Oakland Athletics at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland on April 1. The Red Sox beat the Athletics 2-1 in Oakland's home opener.

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Boston Red Sox beat Oakland Athletics in season opener

TOKYO, Japan - Boston Red Sox starter Daisuke Matsuzaka (L) and set-upper Hideki Okajima celebrate their 6-5 victory over the Oakland Athletics in their season opener at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on March 25.

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Boston Red Sox beat Oakland Athletics in season opener

TOKYO, Japan - Boston Red Sox set-upper Hideki Okajima waves to fans after getting the win by throwing a hitless ninth against the Oakland Athletics in their season opener at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on March 25.

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Boston-Oakland MLB opener held in Tokyo

TOKYO, Japan - Boston Red Sox reliever Hideki Okajima held the Oakland Athletics scoreless in the ninth inning in the Major League Baseball regular season opener at Tokyo Dome on March 25.

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Red Sox beat Yomiuri 9-2, Okajima greeted by camera flashes

TOKYO, Japan - Hideki Okajima of the Boston Red Sox throws a pitch against his former team the Yomiuri Giants in an exhibition game at Tokyo Dome on March 23. Boston won 9-2. Okajima, who came out in relief in the seventh, was greeted by a flurry of camera flashes on his every pitch.

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Red Sox arrive in Japan for opening series

TOKYO, Japan - Boston Red Sox pitcher Hideki Okajima takes part in team practice at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on March 21. Earlier in the day, Boston Red Sox players arrived in Tokyo to open the regular season with games against the Oakland Athletics on March 25 and 26.

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Boston's Okajima heads to Japan for MLB opener

FORT MYERS, United States - Fans send off Boston Red Sox reliever Hideki Okajima in Fort Myers, Florida, on March 19. Okajima will play in the MLB season opener against the Oakland Athletics at Tokyo Dome on March 25.

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Okajima pitches against Iwamura in preseason game

FORT MYERS, United States - Boston Red Sox's Hideki Okajima pitches against Tampa Bay Devil Rays' infielder Akinori Kwamura for the first time in the major league in Fort Myers, Florida, on March 13.

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Japanese major leaguers at final stage of spring training

FORT MEYERS, United States - Boston Red Sox set-upper Hideki Okajima practices pitching at the club's spring training camp at Fort Meyers, Florida, on Feb. 27. (MLB)

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Japanese MLB players at spring camp

FORT MYERS, United States - Boston Red Sox set-upper Hideki Okajima writes his autographs for fans at the club's spring training camp in Fort Myers, Florida, on Feb. 20. (MLB)

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Japanese major leagues begin preseason training

FORT MEYERS, United States - Boston Red Sox set-upper Hideki Okajima (R) runs with teammates during the club's spring training in Fort Meyers, Florida, on Feb. 16. (MLB)

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Japanese major leagues begin preseason training

FORT MEYERS, United States - Boston Red Sox set-upper Hideki Okajima writes his autograph for fans at the club's spring training camp in Fort Meyers, Florida, on Feb. 16. (MLB)

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Matsuzaka, Okajima start preseason training

FORT MYERS, United States - Boston Red Sox set-upper Hideki Okajima plays catch during his preseason training in Fort Myers, Florida, on Feb. 9. (MLB

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Baseball: Matsuzaka, Okajima end rookie year with World Series win

DENVER, United States - Daisuke Matsuzaka (R) and Hideki Okajima are all smiles in posing for photographers at the Coors Field on Oct. 28 as the two Japanese pitchers ended their rookie season in the major leagues with their team the Boston Red Sox winning the World Series with a four-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies.

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Baseball: Okajima helps Red Sox take 2-0 lead in World Series

BOSTON, United States - Hideki Okajima (photo) threw 2-1/3 innings of perfect relief on Oct. 26 as the Boston Red Sox edged the Colorado Rockies 2-1 in Game 2 to lead the World Series two games to none. Okajima struck out four of the seven batters he faced, including Kazuo Matsui in the first matchup between a Japanese pitcher and a Japanese batter in World Series history. The Rockies second baseman went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts at Fenway Park.

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Okajima helps Boston reach World Series

BOSTON, United States - Japanese rookie Hideki Okajima had scoreless relief outing at Fenway Park Oct. 22, helping the Boston Red Sox reach the World Series against Kazuo Matsui's Colorado Rockies. The Red Sox beat the Cleveland Indians 11-2 in Game 7.

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Another scoreless outing for Okajima, but Boston defeated

BOSTON, United States - Boston Red Sox reliever Hideki Okajima pitched 1-2/3 scoreless innings in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Indians at Fenway Park on Oct. 13, but his team lost 13-6 in 11 innings and saw the series tied at one game apiece. (MLB)

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Red Sox to advance to American League Championship series

ANAHEIM, United States - Boston Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka (L) and Hideki Okajima pour champagne on each other at Angels Stadium in Anaheim on Oct. 8 after their team beat the Los Angeles Angels in Game 3 of the American League division playoff series to advance to the AL Championship series.