◆Preseason game: Hanshin Tigers 3-3 Orix (22nd, Kyocera Dome Osaka)
Orix 's fielder captain and catcher, Yuma Tongu (28), hit a home run to wake him up. With the score at 2-2 and one out in the fourth inning, he hit the third pitch from Hanshin Tigers 's Tomita, drawing a high arc into the left field stands at his home stadium, Kyocera Dome. It was his first solo home run in his 33rd at-bat in the exhibition games, and gave him a temporary lead. "I'm glad I managed to get one. I made a good swing, so that was the best thing," he said with a look of relief.
In 2011, he was crowned the leading hitter for the first time with a batting average of .37, but last season he was sluggish with a batting average of .197. During the offseason, he appealed to Coach Kishida to be appointed captain, and even though he took on the challenge this season with unshakable determination, he was in the depths of slump with only two hit At Bat 27 at-bats and a batting average of .74 before the exhibition games. "I really wanted to hit a home run, so I tried this and that every day." He was unable to produce results and continued to go through days of trial and error.
On this day, he corrected the way he used his pivot foot during batting practice, saying, "My right foot was rotating too much on the spot, so I felt like I was hitting it firmly with my left foot." He went into the game saying, "I could see the ball well. I was making good swings from practice, so I'm not going to change it." The long-awaited home run was born from his decision to let go of his obsession with results. The manager said, "I think he's improving as we believed. I think he must be relieved."
Meanwhile, the team was caught up in the final minutes and ended up in a draw, confirming their sole last place finish in the exhibition games with 2 wins, 10 losses and 3 draws. Tonmiya expressed his unchanging sense of crisis, saying, "We haven't won, so there's nothing I can say. (As an individual) I have to do what I've decided to do, otherwise you can't tell anything from just one game." The only exhibition game remaining until the start of the season is against Hanshin Tigers on the 23rd (Kyocera Dome). "I want us to win. That's all there is to it." As captain, he will lead the team with a grim resolve. (Nambu Shunta)
Related News
interpoint (interword separation) [Orix] No. 1 and Keita Nakagawa appeal to 4 At Bat 4 hit 1 Walk "It's getting better and better" opening starting line-up
interpoint (interword separation) [Orix] Kotaro Kobayashi & Yuma Tongu have a shot, but can't stick it out in the final minutes and draw Kishida misses his first home game win again!
interpoint (interword separation) [Orix] Alen Kuri drops 3 2/3 innings at 4 hit 2 runs, 3 strike out
interpoint (interword separation) Orix] With one out in the 4th inning, Yuma Tongu hit a solo shot over the left field wall to win the game! Signs of a return to form as of the time before the game.
interpoint (interword separation) [Orix] In the third inning, behind by one run, Masahiro Nishino tied the game on a towel chante sacrifice fly!
