◆ Pacific League Nippon-Ham 0-3 Seibu Lions (15th, Escon Stadium)

Amidst the jubilant Seibu Lions players, the smile of starting pitcher Kaima Taira (26) also shone brightly. With a three-run lead in the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs, closer Iwaki struck out Hosokawa with a foul fly to third base to end the game. The team achieved its longest winning streak of the season, seven games in total, the longest since July 2013.

It was a solid comeback. Taira, who had to leave the game in the first inning of his previous start on the 3rd against Lotte (ZOZO Marine Stadium) due to discomfort in his right upper arm, returned to the mound after 11 days of rest. His fastball reached a top speed of 157 km/h, and slider was sharp, earning him his third win with 7 innings pitched, 2 hit and no runs allowed. In the 5th inning with one out and runners on first and second, he was seen worrying about the fingers on his right hand, saying, "It felt like a thorn was stuck in me, it was stinging," but he continued pitching, saying, "It got better as I continued to pitch." He proudly stated, "I was able to rest and my velocity has returned, so it was good."

His physique, meticulously crafted through careful calculations, supports his outstanding pitching. The right-hander has switched back to a starting role this season. During his off-season training in Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, he said, "As a starter, I threw a lot of pitches, and I incorporated a lot of running with intervals to help with recovery after pitching," thus rebuilding his physique, which is the strongest on the team. He also began working on muscle hypertrophy by stimulating his nervous system by lifting heavy barbells, and then immediately lifting lighter barbells to his limits without taking a break. Shinohara, a second-year right-hander who graduated from high school and is under his mentor's tutelage, said, "He has a very maniacal image, but he's very straightforward about his desires, and he thinks about every action he takes in order to achieve what he wants," and he has steadily progressed with his preparations using a menu that has a clear purpose.

During their seven-game winning streak, Takahashi Hikaru earned two wins, and Nevin, batting fourth with a .419 average, delivered two game-winning hits, showing that both pitching and hitting are clicking into place. With league leaders Orix Buffaloes losing, the Lions could move into first place for the first time under manager Nishiguchi as early as the 16th. This will be the first time in 1353 days, since September 1, 2022 (after 122 games), that they have been in first place after more than 40 games. The Lions, riding this momentum, are finally poised to reign supreme in the Pacific League. (Ayami Onaka)