◆Open game Nippon-Ham 1-0 Chunichi (9th, ESCON)

Nippon-Ham On the 9th, Koki Kitayama pitcher (25) started an open game against Chunichi (ESCON), and with 2 hit no runs and 3 strike out good pitches in 4 innings, he lit the lamp to be sure of a spot in the opening day rotation. His fastest fastball was 152 kilometers per hour, and his fork and cutter breaking ball pitches were also confirmed. He is scheduled to pitch his next game on the 16th Eastern League against the Lotte (Kamagaya), and if all goes well, he is expected to start the third game of the season on the 30th Seibu (Belluna D).

Kitayama pitched through the scheduled four innings without a hitch. He got Okabayashi, who led off the first inning, on three struck out pitches, all straight and empty, and in the second inning, his only pinch, he got Usami on a fork pitching error with two outs and runners on first and second. With a maximum speed of 152 km/h in the 4th inning 2 hit no runs and 3 strike out, he said, "I was able to pitch at a good tempo strike and compete in the zone without Walk any problems. I'm able to concentrate on the hitter versus the hitter," he nodded.

The battle for a place in the opening rotation has been effectively settled. pitcher coach Kato explained, "(Is he a likely candidate for the rotation?) Of course he is. We're letting him pitch now, so we're letting him do it thinking that he'll be in it. The rest is up to the manager to decide. Everything is going well." He also revealed that he is scheduled to pitch next against Eastern League Lotte on the 16th. This is because Ito will be pitching in the exhibition game against Softbank on the same day (PayPay Dome), so he is expected to maintain his Sunday rotation and head to the game against Seibu on the 30th.

He is in his fourth year as a professional baseball player, and is a "classmate" of Shinjo. He was drafted 8th in the draft and started the season pitcher as a rookie, then went on to become a starter closer and a full-rotation starter, and also experienced the Samurai Japan at last year's Premier 12. He was also a member of the Samurai Japan team at last year's Premier 12. "I'm in a position to challenge myself. But I've had a lot of experience in the pros over the past three years, so all I have to do now is get results. I am proud that I have built up my body and skills," said Kitayama. Kitayama will use the strength he has accumulated through trial and error to explode from the start of the season. (Yasushi Yamaguchi)

〇…Right-handed pitcher Kiyomiya Tora pitched in the ninth inning with a one-run lead and closed the inning without giving up any runs. Regarding his debut in the ESCON, he said, "I was really nervous in the locker room, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be on mound." Matsuoka, who was also with the first team as a development player, was registered as a controlled player on the 8th, and Kiyomiya vowed to make a strong appeal, saying, "I feel frustrated that I was overtaken. If I pitch like Matsuoka, I'll have a chance to be a controlled player."

〇…Yoshida started as the second batter and left fielder. With no outs and a runner on second in the fourth inning, he hit a grounder to second base, which led to the winning run. In the sixth inning, doble that hit the left-center wall fence, which was the team's only hit. "My at-bats were good, so I'll just keep going." The man who went wild the day before with four At Bat four at hit is still in good form.

Fukutani made his "ESCON debut" against his old team Chunichi. runs pitch He was warmly welcomed by both teams, and it was an unforgettable pitching performance. closer gave up 2 hit and 1 Walk in the first inning, but he was mysterious about the content of the game, saying, "The content was garbage. I'm going to reflect on it," he said.