Sports | Eri Yoshida Female Knuckleballer Makes US Debut Eri Yoshida gives up four runs in three innings By Kevin Spak Posted May 31, 2010 12:53 PM CDT Copied Eri Yoshida, an 18 year-old knuckleball pitcher from Japan, makes her US professional debut for the Chico Outlaws against the Tijana Cimarrones, May 29, 2010. (AP Photo/Steve Yeater) Eri Yoshida had a rocky outing in her long-awaited US pro baseball debut, giving up four runs on five hits in three innings. But the Japanese knuckleballer—the first woman to play professionally in two countries, according to the Wall Street Journal—managed to impress some ex-major leaguers along the way. Her knuckler “was really good,” said former Giants infielder Ivan Ochoa. “It's not an easy pitch to hit.” Click here for the minor leaguer's backstory. Read These Next Beyonce leaves national anthem unfinished. A space capsule carrying ashes of 160 people crashed in the ocean. A lesson in minding your own business ... at 30,000 feet. The death toll in the Texas floods has risen to 27, including 9 kids. Report an error