Seattle Mariners first-year Japanese pitcher Yusei Kikuchi took part in a cow milking contest prior to Friday's game against the Los Angeles Angels.

Two players from each team competed to see how much milk they could get from a cow on the field at Angel Stadium, although Kikuchi said it was not really his plan to take part.

"I heard a coach asking something like, 'Has anybody milked a cow?'" Kikuchi said. "So I said yes because my family has a farm. And he said, 'OK. You're doing it.' So I was kind of forced into it."

Despite his background, the lefty had not actually milked a cow since a school trip in elementary school. Because Kikuchi did not look like he knew what he was doing, his interpreter lent a hand, although the Mariners players still lost the milking battle.

Kikuchi is slated to pitch Saturday, and will likely face a fellow graduate of Iwate Prefecture's Hanamaki Higashi High School, Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani.

Like Kikuchi, Ohtani was busy before the game, when he met with basketball player Yuta Watanabe. The second Japanese to play in the NBA, Watanabe made his debut this past season with the Memphis Grizzlies.