◆ Pacific League Nippon-Ham 3-6 Softbank Hawks (11th, Escon Stadium)

Nippon-Ham suffered a 3-6 comeback loss against SoftBank on the 11th (at Softbank Hawks Stadium). Starting pitcher Hiromi Ito (28) gave up 7 hit 6 runs in the middle of the 6th inning, suffering his first loss of the season. The team has now lost four straight games to Softbank Hawks since the start of the season.

Kota Yazawa pitcher (25), who started in the top of the first inning at first base, took Uesawa's second pitch of the 0-0 game, a 150-kilometer two seam fastball pitch, into the right-field bleachers hitter Home Run for the first time in his career. The ball flew 126 meters and was oversized, his first of the season. "I had swung at a good time in the previous game Rakuten Eagles, so I went to bat with confidence," he said with a nod.

This shot was the team's 25th in 13 games since the season opener, and the 12th player to hit one. "Fewer people haven't hit home run... (laughs), and there are only a few more, so I was hoping to hit one soon," he said, making his presence felt in the face of the historic heavy hitting lineup.

This season, he was named to the starting starting line-up at the beginning of the season, but his batting average was a low .143. Nevertheless, he received advice from hitting coach Yokoo and his senior teammate Gunji, who told him, "Don't change me even if I'm not getting hits. It's just a matter of time, so don't rush." He continued to hit strong pull shots, which he had been doing since spring training, and it has now paid off. "The boss is watching me from all angles, and I think he's using me because he believes I can hit even if I'm not, so I'm playing with a bit of confidence." He will continue to improve his form from here on out to become an absolute regular player with his speed and power. (Haruki Kawakami)