On 6 April, the third round match between Fukuoka Softbank and Saitama Seibu was played in MIZUHO PayPay Dome, with Fukuoka Softbank winning 11-1.

Fukuoka Softbank In the first inning, with two outs and the bases loaded, Hotaka Yamakawa hit a two-run single to take the lead. In the bottom of the third inning, back-to-back singles by Taisei Makihara and Ukyo Shuto put runners on second and third with two outs, and Yamakawa added two more runs on an RBI single. Then, in the bottom of the fifth, with runners on first and third with one out and a Walk, back-to-back RBI singles by Yanagida and Yamakawa and RBI singles by Tomoya Masaki sacrifice fly and Kenta Imamiya put the game up 8-0.

Starting pitcher Naoyuki Uwasawa pitcher showed off his tenacious pitching. Up to 3 times, he closer runner each time but runs none. In the fourth inning, he retired three batters for the first time in the game. He shut out the crowd with 3 double play and went 6 hit 1 Walk 2 strike out runs on 97 pitches in six innings to get out of mound.

In the bottom of the sixth, Riku Ogata scored his 11th run on an RBI triple and in the bottom of the seventh, on Masaki's No. 2 solo shot. The relievers closed out the top of the seventh inning with Kazuki Sugiyama pitcher on 1 runs, Ryo Oyama pitcher on runs in the top of the eighth and Osuna pitcher on runs in the top of the ninth.

Fukuoka Softbank exploded for 12 hit 11 runs to earn their first home win of the season. Yamakawa had his first Home Run of the season, including three hit five RBI. Starter pitcher Uezawa pitched six score runs less innings to earn his first win since transferring.

Saitama Seibu, on the other hand, started Yutaro Watanabe pitcher, but he went 8 hit 1 Walk 8 runs (earned runs 5) on 81 pitches in 4.1 innings. The offense was unable to connect, scoring just one run despite throwing out 10 hit. In addition, Manaya Nishikawa players exhaled 3 hit 1 stolen base.

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West 000000100 1
SO 20204210X 11

West: Yutaro Yutaro Watanabe, Yoto Haruto Yamada, Masaya Kuroda, Ramirez, Wingenter
So Naoyuki Uwasawa-Kazuki Sugiyama-Ryo Oyama- Osuna

Text by Hiroki Yashima

・ Match details/video