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

Nippon-Ham Fighters manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo was delighted by his players' enthusiastic efforts and even gave names to their batting styles.

Yuki Kiyomiya, who was pinch-hit for the previous day on the 23rd, had a great game with multiple hits, including a go-ahead doble the right field line in the first inning. Nomura, who was also pinch-hit for, hit back-to-back home runs in the 3rd and 5th innings. Mizutani, who was left out of the starting line-up the previous day, also had three hit, including a two-run homer to right field, his fourth of the season. "They pinch-hit for me yesterday, by Kotaro & Jay (Nomura). They leave me out of starting line-up yesterday, by Jesse (Mizutani). That's it, I was so happy," he said happily.

In the game against Lotte on the 23rd, he removed Manami and Mizutani from the starting line-up starting line-up, replaced Kiyomiya Yuki after three at-bats and Nomura after two at-bats, and sent in pinch hitters, explaining, "It's about fostering a sense of competition. Not just fielder, but pitcher as well, it's about getting them to think about desperately trying to reclaim their positions." He was happier than anyone when the players were motivated by this stimulus.