◆ Pacific League Rakuten Eagles vs. Softbank Hawks (August 2nd, Rakuten Eagles Mobile)

Rakuten Eagles infielder Itsuki Murabayashi (28) started at shortstop and batted seventh in the game against Softbank Hawks on the 2nd. In the 7th inning, he hit his first home run of the season, a solo shot that gave his team a temporary lead.

On the second pitch from Softbank Hawks starter Otsu, Murabayashi scooped up a low 116 km/h change-up and smashed it into the left-field stands. According to "NPB Plus," the ball traveled 117 meters, clearing the newly established "home run zone" and landing in the original stands. Murabayashi had already doble in the second inning and single hit in the fifth, making this his third hit of the day. He is now one hit hit from a cycle.

In the first inning of the day, No. 1 Daisuke Nakashima outfielder (24) led off the first hitter arch of the season with his first of the season. It landed in the right field seats beyond the "home run zone." The pitch was 112 meters away according to "NPB Plus" as it was hit closer to the pole.

The stadium, which has been renamed Rakuten Eagles Mobile's Strongest Park this season, has had its outfield wall renovated. The distance to the foul poles in both left and right field remains unchanged, but the fences near left-center field have been moved forward by 6 meters, and those near right-center field by 4 meters. The difference in distances was made to account for wind direction. Last season, the team hit the fewest Home Run among the 12 teams with only 70. With these renovations, it is hoped that the number of home runs that land in the left-field stands, where many Rakuten Eagles fans wait, will increase. The distances to the newly installed outfield wall are as follows:

▽Home plate to left field: 100.1 meters (no change)

▽ Home plate to left center: Maximum 110 meters (previously 116 meters)

▽Home plate to center fielder: 122 meters (no change)

▽Home plate to right-center field: 112 meters (previously 116 meters)

▽Home plate to right field: 100.1 meters (no change)

However, in the game the previous day, Yanagida hit home run in the third inning and Kondo hit another in the sixth inning, both key players for the reigning league champions Softbank Hawks who have won the league title for two consecutive years. Both were hits that would have been fly balls to outfield in previous seasons. Manager Miki said, "This is how the stadium is this year. I'm not thinking about what it was like last year at all. home run is home run, so the question is how we'll deal with that going forward." Meanwhile, Yanagida looked back on it happily, saying, "I feel like I got a bonus. It's a great memory." The expectation of an increase Home Run also carries the risk of an increase in home runs allowed.