◆ Pacific League: Softbank Hawks vs. Orix Buffaloes (24th, Mizuho PayPay)
Softbank Hawks Hawks outfielder Tomoya Masaki hit a hitter Home Run in the first inning with no outs. He connected with breaking ball from Orix Buffaloes pitcher Daiki Tajima, sending the ball flying just inside the left field foul pole.
"The pitch I hit was cutter. Yesterday, we conceded the first run, which put us in a bad position, so today I went into the game determined to score the first run. I just focused on swinging hard, and I was able to connect with first baseman strike. Today, I want to be involved in scoring so that we can take the win."
The leadoff hitter led the offense, giving them a promising early lead with a run.
Masaki had also hit a hitter Home Run in the game against Yakult on June 12th (at Mizuho PayPay Dome), making this his second leadoff home run of the season.
![[Video] baseball accidentally heads the ball... a rare play](https://hochi.news/images/2026/04/04/20260404-OHT1I51211-L.jpg)
![[Scoreboard] Softbank Hawks vs. Orix Buffaloes](https://hochi.news/assets/v2/img/hochi_news_sns.png)
![[Softbank Hawks] Kenta Kenta Tanigawara to start in right field for the first time this season; Toshiya Nakamura, who joined starting line-up through the active player draft last offseason, to start for the first time in about five years.](https://hochi.news/images/2026/06/24/20260624-OHT1I51437-L.jpg)
![[Softbank Hawks] Soichiro Ishizuka removed from roster due to "fractured mandible"... Despite being hit in the face by a Hit by Pitch the previous day, he had a batting average of .364 after being called up for the first time this season on the 19th, but unfortunately has to be sidelined.](https://hochi.news/images/2026/06/24/20260624-OHT1I51303-L.jpg)
![[Softbank Hawks] Soichiro Ishizuka suffers "mandibular fracture" Hit by Pitch in the face by a pitch in the 9th inning with two outs on the 23rd... He was then taken to the hospital by ambulance.](https://hochi.news/images/2026/06/24/20260624-OHT1I51275-L.jpg)
