◆Open game Yakult vs Orix (14th, Jingu)

Orix Buffaloes pitcher Alen Kuri left the game after six innings, allowing only three hit and no runs, while striking strike out five. The right-hander, who is considered a candidate for the opening pitcher along with Yamashita, showcased his good form in his second appearance of the preseason games.

In the first inning, Nagaoka led off the inning on a blunder by his teammates, but he got rid of Kawabata, who was retiring on this day, on a single double play groundout. Walk and hit and stolen base put runners on second and third with two outs in the second, but he got Nishimura to ground out to third.

In the third inning, after Iwata led off with a single to right field, Kawabata stepped up to the plate with one out and a runner on first. On the fourth pitch after two strike, he retired Kawabata with change-up, showing respect for the legend in a serious showdown. He retired the side in order in both the fourth and fifth innings.

With one out in the 6th inning, Kawabata and I faced off for the third time that day, and I chose to play the straight ball game. count From 1-1, I got two outs closer with a straight line of my own. struck out In the 7th inning, Takatani (Hokkai Gakuen Univ.), the 5th overall pick in the draft, came up to mound start the 7th inning.