◆Nippon Life Interleague Series 2026 Yakult vs. Nippon-Ham (June 6th, Jingu Stadium)

Nippon-Ham Fukuya Yamazaki pitcher (33) will make his first start of the season as a “two-way player” batting seventh pitcher.In a game against DeNA on June 7 of last season (in Yokohama), he started as the “No. 6 batter” (pitcher) and hit a two-run single to right field in the seventh inning, tying Sugiuchi (Softbank Hawks) for the longest streak of five consecutive years (Pacific League pitcher) of hitting a home run in the first inning (hit). If he hits a home run in the first inning this season (hit), it will set a new record. After practice on the 5th, he said,“I’m actually tied for the record in the Spring Koshien Senbatsu tournament as well. I tend to struggle in clutch situations (laughs). I’m trying to keep in mind that I need to somehow break that record.” Attention will also be focused on his performance at the plate to see if he can showcase the batting prowess he displayed in the 2010 Senbatsu tournament—when he was a runner-up with Nihon University Third High School—where he hit 13 hit, tying the record for most home runs in a single tournament.

Furthermore, Mizuno, who hit the game Home Run in the 11th inning of extra inning against Yakult (at Jingu Stadium) the previous day, was left out of starting line-up. After the game on the 5th, manager Shinjo said, "Mizuno has been playing a lot, so I thought I'd give him a little rest."

starting line-up is as follows:

1 (2) Otsuka

2 (3) Yuki Kiyomiya

3 (1) Reyes

4 (Right) Manami

5 (Center) Castro

6 (Left) Nomura

7 (Pitcher) Yamazaki

8 (Catcher) Shindo

9. (Play) Yamagata