◆ Pacific League Nippon-Ham 7-4 Lotte (24th, ES CON FIELD)

Lotte, currently in fifth place in Pacific League, lost to Nippon-Ham on the 24th (at Escon Stadium), suffering their second consecutive loss and bringing their record to 33 wins, 33 losses, and 2 ties, eliminating their winning record and dropping them back to a .500 winning percentage.

On this day, Inoue was listed as “No. 6, DH” and Yamamoto as “No. 8, center fielder” at starting line-up.Six right-handed batters—excluding Ogawa, Sato, and Yasuda—hitter made it into the starting line-up lineup. However, Nippon-Ham they were held to just 4 hit runs through seven innings by starting left-hander Kato, and were closer outplayed. Their only run came in the seventh inning on a two-run homer by Polanco, who pinch-hit for Inoue.

Manager Saburo explained his decision to start Inoue and Yamamoto at starting line-up: “Right-handed batters (hitter) had a better matchup against (left-hander Kato), so I figured it would be tough The Fighters if we couldn’t hit for power, so that’s what we aimed for.”“After watching yesterday’s (the 23rd) game, I thought we might need someone who could swing a little harder,” he continued. However, the batting lineup remained silent through the sixth inning, held scoreless with two hit outs closer, and he lamented, “Since Kato-kun lacks speed, I think he relies on control and strategy closer pitcher, so it feels like we fell right into his trap.”