◆SMBC Japan Series 2025 Game 3 Hanshin Tigers vs Softbank (28th, Koshien)
With the third game coming up with the score tied at 1-1, Softbank manager Hiroki Kokubo expressed his hopes for the top of his batting order.
The game will be played at Koshien where there is no designated hitter system, and Kondo, who played the full game as the fourth batter and designated hitter in the two home games, will start on the bench and wait to pinch-hitter. Imamiya will be in the starting starting line-up as the sixth batter and shortstop for the first time in this series, and Yamakawa will play as the fourth batter and first baseman.
"baseball changes completely (at Koshien). When pitcher steps up (to bat), it's completely different. The opponents are different too, but it's completely different from the DH. Of course, it's completely different from artificial turf. It's hard to hear each other's voices, so it's even more important for fielder to communicate with each other, right down to the last word," said the manager. "Especially in Central League stadiums, the lower the batting order, the harder it is to score runs. It's important that the higher up the order score runs at all costs. The same goes for the opponents, though," he said, expressing his hopes for a strong performance from the top batting order, which includes Yanagita, Shuto, Yanagimachi, Yamakawa, and Kurihara.
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