◆ Practice match Nippon-Ham 3-3 Rakuten Eagles (11th, Nago)

A rare play occurred when a foul fly ball to catcher was transformed into a ground ball to the pitcher due to a trick of the wind.

With no outs in the bottom of the ninth inning with the score tied, Rakuten Eagles ・Naoki Hito pitcher swung at the third pitch of the game Nippon-Ham ・ Yuki Nomura infielder and the ball went high toward the first base bench. However, the fly ball that Kei Mizukami catcher was chasing was swept away by the wind and plopped down in a foul ground near the left batter, completely different from the direction it was chased.

However, the white ball, which looked like a foul, just rolled helplessly into the fair ground... Hito came down from mound to pick it up. Mizukami stood there in a daze. Nomura, who should have narrowly escaped death. For a moment, time seemed to stop as home-base umpire 's voice saying "fair" rang out on ground.

According to the rules, a ball that returns to fair territory in infield without being touched by fielder is fair. Hito quickly throw the ball to first base, and the call was "out." As the fans in the stands couldn't comprehend what had happened, Nomura, whose ball was recorded as a "grounder to the pitcher," returned to the bench with a dissatisfied look on his face.

Hito, who was able to successfully get the out on the ball he had hit, laughed and said, "When I thought about it, a bunt would be fair if it was returned...I looked at the umpire while still holding the ball, and he called it fair. I'm glad I realized it early."

Hitoshi struck out the leadoff hitter and then retired all three batters to end the game. The right-handed pitcher, a third-year high school graduate aiming to make the opening day first team, reflected on his first appearance on the mound in a real game, saying, "I was able to throw fork in strike zone. I'm in good shape, so the next one is important. I want to cherish every pitch and continue to grow as I head into the opening game."