Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met on Tuesday Red Sox players Koji Uehara and Junichi Tazawa.

Both are pitchers for the Boston Red Sox, last year’s World Series champions.

Abe talked to the players in their language, comparing his return to politics to a “relief pitcher taking the mound with no outs and bases loaded - the only thing to do is throw your best pitch right down the middle.”

The players jokingly challenged the baseball-loving Prime Minister to a sandlot game after their meeting.

After having a jersey autographed, Abe also met Wally the Green Monster and posed for pictures holding the World Series trophy.