Pacific League Lotte 4-3 Softbank (31st, Zozo Marine)
This was a painful losing streak, with the game not playing as expected of Softbank. Unable to get on a roll, they made a series of mistakes. They only managed three runs out of 14 hit in each inning, and gave up the winning run on a passed ball by the catcher. They were "playing catchy" against second-place Nippon-Ham, just one game behind them, day after day. Manager Kokubo gradually grew more heated, saying, "We could have won both yesterday and today. Nippon-Ham lost, so we still have some luck. If we keep playing like this, even that luck will be abandoned by us."
They took the lead in the second inning. With bases loaded loaded and no outs, they missed another run, and the game was tied immediately after. Haru Matsumoto was taken out after his shortest start innings, 2 0/3 innings. In the third inning, a missed pitch by Minei put the team behind, and a missed pitch and a wild pitch further worsened the situation. Minei was replaced in the fourth inning. A good opportunity with two outs and runners on first and second in the fourth inning ended when second-base runner Nomura was caught out on a pickoff attempt. In the eighth inning, with two outs and runners on first and second, pinch-hitter Yanagimachi hit a single to center field to bring the team within one run, but first-base runner Kawamura was caught out at third base. The manager generally criticized the team for "lack of preparation."
"In baseball, there are 'pauses'. What do you think in those pauses? If you can't think, you're not a professional," he said. He was dissatisfied with his players' inability to play according to the situation, and reprimanded them in an emergency meeting. "It's embarrassing to baseball like this at this time of year." The team set off on their three-game tour with a 3.5 game lead over Shinjo-Ham, and has recorded two wins and six losses. The tough battle continues. (Ando Osamu)
Related News
・ [Scoreboard] Lotte Softbank
・ [Softbank] Coach Yuki Kokubo "If you play a game like today, you will be abandoned by luck" "Embarrassing" Gather after the game
・ [Softbank] Losing streak due to a series of mistakes Going with Nippon-Ham every day Winning point with a catch, a base running death in a row due to a clumsy attack
・ [Softbank] Reversed and replaced in 3 innings Haru Matsumoto was the shortest KO, Hiroki Minei was the first hit and caught 2 inning
・ [Softbank] A change from a comfortable winning mood, Kohei Arihara "It was a good development, but I'm really sorry" The gap with Ham does not widen
