◆ Pacific League Seibu Lions 3-6 Rakuten Eagles (3rd, Belluna Dome)

Rakuten Eagles has won two in a row and escaped being tied for last place. With a season record of 3 wins and 4 losses, they are just one win away from erasing their deficit. YG Yasuda (26), in his fifth year with the team, hit a game-winning triple that served as his calling card after changing his registered name in the offseason.

Started as "No. 2 DH". In the 4th inning of 0-0, he hit a timely triple to the right field line and RBI the first hit of the season. triple is the first time in a professional game. "I'm glad I was able to run well." From the top of this inning, 6 consecutive hits and the batting line were connected, and the big inning scored 5 runs at once. He contributed brilliantly to win.

Last season, due to a broken right hand and other factors, he did not appear in the first team for the first time in his fourth year. number The decision was made to change his name to "Yuma Godzilla Yasuda" out of respect for Hideki Matsui, whom he respects and hopes will be able to give him some strength.

By the way, what was the process that led to the decision?

"I was doing some stretching when Hayakawa (Takahisa) said to me, 'Why don't you change your name?' I replied, 'I'll really change it.' I spent the whole day thinking about it and what I should do, and in the end, I changed it."

Crimson red Yuma Godzilla roars in the center of the heated battle. (Hiroshi Kato)