◆ Pacific League: Lotte 8-5 Rakuten Eagles (19th, ZOZO Marine Stadium)

Rakuten's new manager, Rakuten Eagles Yoshii (61), was unable to celebrate his debut with win. He watched the moment of lose intently from the third base dugout. This was his first game in charge since his unusual appointment as manager mid-season was announced on the 17th. Although they took a three-run lead at one point, pitcher staff succumbed to a home run barrage, resulting in a come-from-behind loss. It was a losing start against his former team, Lotte, where he managed until last season, but he remained positive, saying, "Everyone did their best. We'll switch gears and work hard to come up with a strategy that will allow us to win tomorrow."

His desperate relief strategy did not pay off. He scored 4 runs by the 3rd inning, but starter Shoji runs 4 in the 5th. In the tied sixth inning, Sho Suzuki created a bases loaded crisis with two outs and decided to switch to Shibata. However, Aito took bases loaded bullets. Manager Yoshii entrusted the game to him, saying, "That was a contest, so I thought the right pitcher would be better," but it didn't lead to results.

Nevertheless, Yoshii's style was evident throughout. "I didn't have a chance to meet with the coaching staff, so I decided the batting order order myself (laughs). Next time, we'll discuss it and decide together. This time, I wanted to tell the players yesterday," he said, explaining why he personally arranged batting order. He selected Waterers, a third-year high school graduate, to start for the second time this season, and placed Watanabe Kei in the seventh spot in starting line-up. In the first inning, with two outs and a runner on first, McCusker hit his fourth home run of the season, a two-run shot to left field, and in the third inning, with a one-run lead and two outs and runners on second and third, Watanabe Kei hit a two-doble to left-center field. Despite the disappointing lose, the batting lineup functioned well. The young players also gained valuable experience, and Yoshii explained his aim by saying, "Young players won't grow unless they play under a certain amount of pressure."

The team suffered a defeat in a match attended by owner Mikitani, extending their losing streak to four games. The team is currently at the bottom of the league. However, there are still 78 games left in the season. "We will fight with the determination to win at the forefront. There is still a 100% chance, so we will aim for the top," he declared. The team has made a fresh start with a new manager.

(Kouta Miyauchi)