Pacific League Nippon-Ham 5-0 Rakuten (29th, Escon)
On the 29th, Nippon-Ham won a comfortable 5-0 victory against Rakuten (ESCON). They tied their season-high with 26 points and maintained a one-game lead over the leading Softbank. Starting pitcher Koki Kitayama (26) threw 120 pitches in seven innings, allowing six hit no runs, and striking out nine strike out. He had runner in scoring position in the middle innings, but he held on tight at Rakuten Rakuten).
breaking ball struck out In the fourth inning, with one out and runners at first and second, Kitayama hit two straight balls struck out in quick succession to end the inning. In the fifth inning, with two outs and runners at first and second, Kitayama got Murabayashi to ground out a straight ball struck out. He threw 120 pitches in seven innings, 6 hit no runs and 9 strike out to pick up his eighth win of the season, I'm glad I was able to get out of it," he said.
It also broke the team's bad trend. Softbank The team won three in a row in the first two games, but then lost one and drew one against Seibu (Berna D). We felt that the flow of the game had stagnated. In that situation, they pushed straight into the first inning for three struck out in a row. 'I wanted to come back home and pitch another spiffy inning. I didn't give up the first run, so I think I fulfilled my role.
I have regained my true self. In the last few games, I felt that I lacked the strength to throw a straight line. I was able to improve a lot this time, and I threw carefully so I wouldn't lose that feeling. I threw too many pitches this time, but I was able to overcome my issues." The straight ball he threw in the 5th inning was 149 km/h. He made Murabayashi miss it struck out. The pitch's velocity was down slightly in the latter half of the inning, but he was able to get it in with his quality. I think that was the best part of the game," he said.
He won the matchup against Shoji, who he had lost to last time, and earned his eighth win, a new career high. "I had a strong desire to get revenge. I want to win at least double digits, so I want to contribute more and more to the team." The team remains one game behind the leader, Softbank. In the crucial month of September, he continues to swing his right arm with confidence.
(Yamaguchi Yasushi)
Related News
・ [Scoreboard] Nippon-Ham vs. Rakuten
・ [Nippon-Ham] Manager Shinjo, desperately defending a one-game lead against the Softbanks, makes a strange suggestion for the mixed-season: "It'll be more interesting if The Tigers are in it."
・ Nippon-Ham 's Koki Kitayama "Let's tighten up once more," creating a new momentum in the restart game to come back and win
・ [Nippon-Ham Fighters] Koki Kitayama is feeling better... The inspiration came suddenly... "Ah, here it comes"... He will start against Rakuten on the 29th
・ [Nippon-Ham] Tatsuki Mizuno, who had injured his left thigh, immediately returned with a two-run doble...stopping the losing streak at three...Manager Shinjo also praised him, saying, "I'm glad he's the sixth batter."
