"To be honest, it wasn't a very good match."

Lotte's Haruya Tanaka closer six runs innings against Seibu Lions on March 28, but he wasn't satisfied with his fastball. However, in his previous start on April 4 against Softbank Hawks, 17 of his 20 pitches in the first inning were fastball, and he used his powerful fastball closer runs for six innings.

In contrast to the game against Seibu Lions, he threw more fastball against Softbank Hawks. "The wind was a good influence, but I think I was able to pitch at least as well as I did against Softbank Hawks," he summarized.

In the game against Softbank Hawks, he threw a lot of high fastball. When asked if the wind was a factor, he revealed, "The wind is a factor, but there's also data. It's also to make use of my data, and I think it was the best approach."

Among them were the 152-kilometer outer corner of the third pitch fastball that took a missed struck out from Takashi Umino with two outs runner none in the 0-0 second inning, and the 150-kilometer fastball that took a missed Tatsuru Yanagimachi from two balls two strike to an in-course struck out with two outs in the 0-0 fifth inning.

"Including the preseason games and the first game of the season, my left-handed inside pitches and right-handed outside pitches weren't quite on target, so I spent a week throwing more of those in bullpen. I think that led to good results and helped me overcome one of my weaknesses."

In breaking ball, in the 3rd inning of 0-0, with 2 outs and 1 out, he hit Hotaka Yamakawa with 3 balls and 2 strike on third base, and on the 8th pitch, he swung struck out an in-course sinker fork on the .

"Since count was 32, I honestly thought I had no other option but to throw fork, and I threw it with the mindset that it would be okay even if it resulted in Walk, so I think that worked out well."

With a 3-ball, 2-strike count, there's a chance it could be called a ball if the batter lets it go. In that situation, is fork on the inside corner to right-handed hitter something he can throw with confidence right now?

"This ball is designed to get strikeouts, so I can throw it with confidence."

Also, the slider of the 7th pitch, which finished the lead Ryoya Kurihara in the 4th inning of 0-0 with a 3-ball 2 strike with a struck out, fell 137 kg vertically.

"I used the vertical slider to some extent in the game against Softbank Hawks, and it's a pitch that will be key this year, so I'm able to throw it with confidence now."

This season, Haruya Tanaka has been able to struck out struck out needed.

"It's a necessary skill to get out of jams without giving up a run, and I practice to get struck out, so I'm able to throw breaking ball well, and I'm also able to throw fastball where it needs to be, so I think it's good that I'm able to closer of jams properly."

Does he feel like he's able to pitch way he envisions right now?

"The ball itself has improved to some extent, but I think six innings is too short. I want to achieve a quality start, which means pitching seven innings with two runs allowed, and I want to do that with good quality. I want to reduce the number of unnecessary, wasted pitches and pitch at least seven innings. This year, I want to focus on the number of quality starts, so I want to achieve that as a starting pitcher."

This will be his second game Seibu Lions this season, and he will throw with confidence, using the pitches he has to bring win to his team.

Interview and text by Yuta Iwashita