On June 17, the first round of the "Japan Life SEPA Exchange Match 2025" between Yokohama DeNA and Saitama Seibu was held in Yokohama Stadium, and Saitama Seibu won 3-0.

The starter, Tatsuya Imai pitcher, started the first inning with a three-way tie. In the top of the second inning, Hidego Maki gave up his first hit to leadoff hitter, but catcher Yuto Koga prevented Maki from stolen base with a perfect throw. pitcher Imai also stepped up a gear with four consecutive strike out from the second to the third.

Then, in the top of the fourth, back-to-back singles by Shinya Hasegawa and Nevin put runners on second and third with no outs, and Shuta Tonosaki led off the inning with a sacrifice fly. Meanwhile, pitcher Imai struck out two consecutive batters in the bottom of the fifth inning with one out and the bases loaded, struck out the bases loaded.

In the second half of the game, Imai pitcher continued to make good progress, not allowing a single runner from the sixth inning. Eager to respond to pitcher Imai's strong pitching, the Yankees added a second run in the top of the ninth inning on back-to-back doble by Hasegawa and Nevin. With one out and bases loaded on the offensive, Bauer pitcher was pulled out to make it 3-0 on an RBI single by Yu Koga.

In the bottom of the ninth, pitcher Imai closed out the game with three consecutive strike out to earn his first shutout game win of the season. He threw 123 pitches in nine innings, allowing just two hit and no walks Hit by Pitch earned his sixth win of the season. strike out took 17, the most of any professional player, breaking Daisuke Matsuzaka's club record. Takizawa, Hasegawa, and Nevin were active in the batting lineup with two hit.

123456789 total
West 000100002 3
De 000000000 0

West ○ Tatsuya Imai
De Bauer - Torada Nakagawa

Text by Ayako Kikuchi