Lotte's Shota Suzuki has shown an overwhelming presence in the 8th inning of winning games.

In the game against Hiroshima on the 26th, he took the mound in the bottom of the 8th inning right after scoring three runs in the top of the 8th inning to go up 0-1. He got Shoichi Futamata, the leadoff batter, to ground out short stop on the 6th pitch of 147 km fastball from 2 balls 2 strike and then got the next batter, Kaito Koen, to ground out fastball on the first pitch of the inning. After easily getting two outs, he finally got Norihiko Nabara to fly out to left field on two seam fastball from 2 balls and 1 strike, putting away the Hiroshima batting lineup, which was moving up through the top of the 8th, with three men in harm's way.

Having a predetermined pitching location, specifically the 8th inning of a winning game, might make preparation easier.

"I've been playing the 8th inning all the time, so it's a position that's easy to prepare. It's important to work the inning entrusted to me, but since it's an important inning, I should keep going in the 8th. I've made sure to keep that in mind and prepare well."

This extends Suzuki's runs to 13 consecutive games, starting with the game against Nippon-Ham on April 15th.

◆ fastball

As he himself says, "I think it's good," fastball this season is very powerful.

On April 21, against Orix Buffaloes, missed Seymour from 1 ball 2 strike without runner in the 8th inning of 7-4 fastball on the outside corner of the 4th pitch that he made struck out, on May 15, against Orix Buffaloes, missed the first pitch outside 150 km fastball that he threw to Tomoya Mori with two outs in the 8th inning of 6-3 Seibu Lions on May 20, 1-. missed struck out from 1 ball 2 strike to Seiya Watanabe with one out in the 8th inning of a 1-1 game against fastball on May 20, and missed 146 kilos on the high inside , and missed 146 kilos on the first pitch he threw to Nevin fastball with two outs in the 8th inning of a 1-1 game against Seibu Lions on the same day were great.

When asked specifically why fastball is good, he analyzed, "It's not just the speed, but I think I'm able to throw the ball with the right angle to where I want it to go."

When I asked him if the stable pitch he has continued this season is also because fastball is good, he replied, "The axis is fastball, so of course that is true.

His weapon, slider, was also impressive in the May 16 Orix Buffaloes game, where he struck out the leadoff Ryo Ota in the 8th inning with a 2-0 lead and a struck out swing from 1 ball, 2 strike, down to 129 km/h vertical slider. Regarding slider, he said, "slider is good too," and continued, "slider is the best, but I think it would be good if you could throw fork as well."

He said that he was able to throw fork "more in line with my own instincts than I thought," and the 136 km/h outside fork he threw on the third pitch to Yuki Yanagita on the 8th inning of the May 9th game Softbank Hawks, with the score tied 4-4, two outs, and no runner on base, and the count at 1 ball and 1 strike, was magnificent.

The interleague games begin on the 26th, offering a chance to close the gap with the top teams. "I think the interleague games are a crucial time for the team, so I want to win as many games as possible. I want to pitch in a way that contributes to the team's victory." He's ready to go for the team's win.

Interview and text by Yuta Iwashita