[Orix Buffaloes] Manager Mamoru Kishida: "It's entirely my responsibility. I might have been able to closer Kiyomiya." He did not blame Soichiro Yamazaki, who gave up a go-ahead three-run homer after being intentional walk walked in the 7th inning. This was their first consecutive loss of the season and their first series loss.

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Orix Buffaloes Soichiro Yamazaki (right) is taken out of the game after giving up a three-run homer to Yuki Nomura (Photo by Ryota Miyazaki)

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

Orix Buffaloes suffered their first consecutive losses of the season, resulting in their first losing record in the third series of the season.

In the 7th inning, with the score tied 3-3, reliever Yamazaki gave up a go-ahead three-run homer to Nomura. Just before that, he had intentional walk walked Kiyomiya to avoid a showdown. Manager Mamoru Kishida said with a grim expression, "I was a little hesitant... I feel a bit sorry for Soichiro (Yamazaki). It was our mistake. (By intentional walk walking him) we ended up walking him, so I think it's entirely my responsibility." With their winning percentage dropping back to 50%, he took responsibility, saying, "Maybe we should have just faced him normally. If we had continued as we were, we might have been able to closer Kiyomiya."

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[Orix Buffaloes] Manager Mamoru Kishida: "It's entirely my responsibility. I might have been able to closer Kiyomiya." He did not blame Soichiro Yamazaki, who gave up a go-ahead three-run homer after being intentional walk walked in the 7th inning. This was their first consecutive loss of the season and their first series loss.