◆ Pacific League Nippon-Ham 6-3 Orix Buffaloes (April 4th, ES CON FIELD)

Orix Buffaloes pitcher Soichiro Yamazaki, who gave up a go-ahead three-run homer in the seventh inning, showed no hesitation. With the score tied 3-3 and two outs with a runner on second base, he intentional walk walked Kiyomiya. Manager Mamoru Kishida chose to face the right-handed Nomura. Nomura had been in good form since the start of the season, and before the game hit in eight At Bat against right-handed hitter (hit one in five At Bat against left-handed hitter). On a 1-ball count, he threw a powerful fastball on the outside corner, but it was hit over the right field fence.

"Ideally, I would have liked to get a foul ball and make it 1 ball and 1 strike," the 160 km/h right-hander reflected. As one of the players expected to pitch in close games in the future, he looked ahead, saying, "He really finished it off with one swing, so I think it was a nice hit. It's my fault for giving up the hit. I lost. It's really important to move on. I'll reflect on it properly and pitch next time."