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

Aito rounded the home plate diamond, surrounded by a roaring crowd, while feeling the full weight of Manager Yoshii’s gaze as he sat in the third-base dugout.With the score tied 4–4 in the sixth inning with two outs bases loaded, he launched his first home run of the season bases loaded into the left-field stands off Shibata. Seibu Lions It was his first grand slam in three years—his first since 1923—and a powerful blow to his former manager, the “mentor” who had acquired him from Seibu Lions in the active player draft that December.

“He trusted me enough not to send in a pinch hitter, so I was able to stay focused.” Driven solely by the desire to repay Manager Saburo for sending him up to bat in two consecutive at-bats—struck out—he crushed a 153-kilometer fastball from full count. Although he played alongside former manager Yoshii for two years through last season, he flatly states, “I have no memories of him.”It was precisely because he was able to completely shift his mindset that he achieved such a good result. His first child, a daughter, was born in June, making him a first-time dad.

Buoyed by the performance of the Narashino High School brass band, known for their "beautifully powerful sound," they achieved a one-game lead for the first time since April 3rd. Manager Saburo said excitedly, "The beautifully powerful sound was so amazing that we couldn't hear anything from the dugout. We want to build up more wins." They will give it their all again on the 20th to beat Yoshii's Rakuten Eagles.

(Shunsuke Ami)