◆ Pacific League Seibu Lions 0-4 Orix Buffaloes (August 1st, Kyocera Dome Osaka)
Orix Buffaloes secured their second shutout game victory of the season. Starting pitcher Espinoza, a right-hander in his third year in Japan, hit and strike out seven, earning his first shutout game win in his 46th appearance in NPB.
In the sixth inning, with the score tied 0-0, Hirooka hit a timely RBI to right field with no outs and a runner on second to give his team the lead. Two more runs were added on a passed ball and fielder’s choice, and then with one out and runners on first and third, Seymour hit a timely single to right field for his first RBI since coming to Japan. With four runs scored in this inning, they extended their winning streak against Seibu Lions starting pitcher, Takahashi Hikaru, to eight games. With both pitching and hitting clicking, they are back to a one-game lead in the standings.
![[Scoreboard] Seibu Lions vs. Orix Buffaloes](/asset/img/news/source/logo_hochi.png){kind=logo}
![[Orix Buffaloes] Fifth pitcher Perdomo gives up two runs, resulting in the team's first come-from-behind loss of the season... The "eighth-inning man" who is tied for second in the league with 35 hold points in 2025, was a disappointment.](https://hochi.news/images/2026/03/31/20260331-OHT1I51551-L.jpg)
![[Orix Buffaloes] Perdomo gives up 2 runs after only recording one out... Manager Mamoru Kishida, who has used a total of 19 pitcher in the first four games of the season, said, "reliever pitchers are doing a good job."](https://hochi.news/images/2026/03/31/20260331-OHT1I51610-L.jpg)
![[Seibu Lions] "100 points": New closer, second-round draft pick Hakua Iwaki, gets his first professional save in his debut appearance!](https://hochi.news/images/2026/03/31/20260331-OHT1I51631-L.jpg)
