Rakuten Eagles made a dramatic win in extra inning 12 innings. It was the pride of their main slugger Hideto Asamura that saved the team from a losing streak. In the ninth inning, trailing by one run, he broke his bat with one out and a runner on third, but managed to get the game tied with a runner second baseman grounder to bring the game back to level. In the 11th inning, he hit a priceless solo Home Run to win by one run, laying the foundation for the subsequent walk-off win.

Former Rakuten Eagles manager Toshiaki Imae, who served as a commentator on CS Fuji TV ONE's "Pro baseball News" broadcast on the 22nd, praised him, saying, "His presence in crucial moments is truly impressive. His ability to hit home runs is definitely his charm. Lately, he hasn't been in top form and hasn't been able to swing the way he wants, and he may not have been satisfied with himself, but he's a player who can show his strength in these kinds of situations, so he's definitely someone we can rely on."

Similarly, commentator Masashi Saito also focused on the "special talent" of the man who has reigned as the team's main slugger for many years, saying, "Today, he kept striking out in scoring opportunities. But the fact that he got another chance at the end is amazing. I think he has that kind of destiny or something like that."

☆ Cooperation: Fuji TV ONE "Professional baseball News 2026"