◆ Pacific League Rakuten Eagles 8X-7 Seibu Lions (22nd, Tokyo Dome) =12 extra inning =

Rakuten Eagles Manager Masato Yoshii (61) secured his first victory in his third match in charge after a fierce battle with the league leader, Seibu Lions. Just before the draw, extra inning won walk-off with a timely single over the left field by Fumiya Kurokawa infielder (25) with two outs and a runner on second in the 12th inning. The team's losing streak ended at five. In the ninth inning, they tied the game by one run, and in the 11th inning with a score of 6-7, Asamura's solo homer hit his sixth to tie the game again. In the end, with two outs and runner zero, he created a chance and won the team's longest seesaw game of 4 hours and 38 minutes this season. This match was also watched by owner Mikitani. Could this be a turning point for the low-flying golden eagle corps?

They secured win in a dramatic turn of events. New manager Yoshii clenched his fist as he proudly watched his players basking in the joyous celebration. In the bottom of the 12th extra inning, with two outs and a runner on second base, Kurokawa hit a walk-walk-off over left field. "Everyone really did their best. They fought tenaciously." It was their long-awaited first win after battling through the longest game of the season, 4 hours and 38 minutes.

It was a fierce battle. They conceded three runs in the third inning, took the lead with four runs in the seventh, but then allowed the opposing team to take the lead again in the eighth inning. Nevertheless, they tied the game in the ninth inning when they were down by one run, forcing extra inning innings, and in the eleventh inning when they were extra inning by one run, Asamura hit a solo home run to tie the game. They repeatedly rekindled their path to win, and finally created a chance with two runner and no runners on base through Walk and stolen base base. They secured the win with clutch managerial decisions.

The desire to win: The manager's tenacity was palpable. The new manager, who took office on the 17th, conveyed a hunger for win to the team, which was languishing at the bottom of the league. "First and foremost, a strong desire to win. It may sound like a matter of mental fortitude, but I want everyone to reaffirm that. Let's put the desire to win front and center and do our best." Along with the attitude towards win, he also demands "professionalism" from the players. "I want to develop players who can act responsibly on their own. I want to create a professional team," he says, explaining his beliefs. Their first win in their new environment was the culmination of each player fulfilling their role in a tense game.

This was the annual "Rakuten Eagles Super Nighter," a game attended by owner Mikitani himself. Manager Yoshii, who decided to take on the role after being impressed by the owner's enthusiasm, was delighted, saying, "The players have shown a winning attitude in all three games. We are making progress little by little." With their new commander, the journey of counterattack has begun. (Kota Miyauchi)

[Interview with Director Yoshii]

—In the end, Kurokawa made the decisive move.

"In the previous at-bat at walk-off (extra inning—10th inning, one out, runners on first and third), outfield he pulled the ball when a fly ball would have been fine, infield and it ended up as a groundout, but when another chance came around, he learned from that mistake, drove the ball solidly, and line drive hit a hit."

pitcher also held their ground from the 8th inning onward.

"Aside from Fujihira, everyone was nervous. But fielder covered for their mistakes and helped them recover. Young players won't develop unless they can perform under pressure. It felt like we were able to develop a young pitcher as a team, so it was a very meaningful game."

—In the 12th inning of extra inning, with two outs, pinch runner Kobukata stole second base.

"He ran well, as he was told to go for it. I think he also used some tactics he doesn't normally use, and (Ota) executed the bunt-and-run very well."