◆ Pacific League Seibu Lions-Nippon-Ham (26th, Belluna Dome)

With a powerful swing that sent him reeling backward, Seibu Lions ’s Alexander Canario outfielder (26) launched a bullet line drive that pierced the left-field stands. It was the leadoff at-bat in the ninth inning, with the score tied. Nippon-Ham He swung hard at Uehara’s 150-kilometer fastball and walk-off hit his seventh solo home run of the season.“Ussu,” the hero said with a brief greeting on the podium. He burst with joy, saying, “This isn’t just my first home run since coming to Japan—it’s walk-off home run the first of my life, so I’m really happy.” With this dramatic victory—their fourth of the season—the team snapped a three-game losing streak and cut the gap to second-place Softbank Hawks to two games after a rainout.

He also played a leading role with his first-ever four hit. In the first inning, trailing by one run, he got on base with a single to left hit. In the third inning, with one out and a runner on second, he hit a game-tying RBI single to center field off Ito's 133 km/ slider. In the seventh inning, trailing by two runs, he got on base with a single to right hit with two outs, setting up a priceless game-tying two-run RBI single by cleanup hitter Nevin.

Behind his struggles in a foreign country, there is a reliable senior player. For the Dominican, who is in his first year in Japan, Nevin, a slugger three years his senior who has been playing in Japan since last year, is like a "mentor." "He has more experience in the majors than me. He gives me advice about Japanese pitcher and things like that," he says, and he is encouraged by his advice.

Despite winning the interleague series for the first time in franchise history, they suffered a shocking three-game sweep against last-place Rakuten Eagles in the previous series. With the possibility of losing first place in the standings in jeopardy, manager Nishiguchi praised the win, saying, "(Canario) really became the starting point and did a great job." Canario smiled and said, "Not everything goes well baseball, and there are times when you lose. That's why I'm happy that we were able to win." Led by the two foreign players, Seibu Lions has regained its spirit. (Ayami Onaka)