◆Nippon Life Interleague Series 2026 Yakult 0-2 Nippon-Ham (June 6th, Jingu Stadium)

Nippon-Ham Fighters pitcher Koki Kitayama (27), who will start in the game against Yakult on the 7th (at Jingu Stadium), vowed to deliver a brilliant performance to save his team from a series of tough games. The team has won three straight games since their grueling 4-hour and 51-minute battle in Hiroshima, but the team's winning pattern pitchers, Yamamoto, Tanaka, and Yanagawa, will be pitching for the third consecutive day. "We've had a series of tough games, so my goal is to pitch long inning. I want to go into the game with the intention of pitching until the end, and I think reliever are physically exhausted, so I want to do my best to cover for them as well." He will be aiming for his fifth win of the season with his second complete game. Manager Shinjo also encouraged him, saying, "Everyone is tired. Kitayama will have to pitch alone."

Jingu Stadium Yakult In his first year as a professional pitcher in 1922, he was hit in two consecutive walk-off home run games as a guardian god. I was able to realize how much I appreciate the people who support me. Thanks to that, I think I was able to come back, so I want to go up to mound with a sense of gratitude," he said, showing his evolution over the past four years. （I would like to go up to with gratitude.)