◆Exhibition game: Yakult 11-0 Orix Buffaloes (March 13, Jingu Stadium)

Orix Buffaloes Taisuke Yamaoka pitcher (30) stopped in the opening rotation battle. The 10-year professional right-hander, who has been re-starting this season, pitched 5 innings, 5 hit, 2 runs (1 earned), and 4 strike out. It was a painful pitch to take the lead every time until the 3rd inning, but in both the 4th and 5th innings, he improved his form with a 3-way retirement. "After all, I can't remember how to enter the early stages, and I have to say, 'I can't give up one point' or 'use the number of pitches' like in the reliever, so the timing and switching (were the challenges)."

After finishing three innings, pitcher coach Atsusawa advised him, "Let's try to get two strike. Don't try to aim for the corners, and don't try to test breaking ball, just let them hit the ball." "The fourth and fifth innings were good. I want to continue that, or rather, I want to be able to do that from the first inning." Changing his mindset led to his recovery, and he gained a valuable lesson for his next appearance on the mound.

Although his fastest pitch was only 144 km/h, he said, "I think my power output is improving." Manager Kishida said, "He was able to make a good impression by focusing on the strike zone at the end and getting breaking ball to swing at his breaking balls. He's still one of the competitors," expressing his hopes for further improvement. Yamaoka himself reiterated his desire to make the opening day rotation, saying, "That's what I'm aiming for. I want to prepare for it."