◇ Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters vs. Chunichi "Nippon Life Interleague Series 2026," Game 2 (May 13th, ES CON FIELD)

Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters' Tatsuki Mizuno hit a go-ahead RBI triple, giving momentum to the team, which is currently on an eight-game winning streak.

In the top of the third inning, starting pitcher Ren Fukushima closer the side in order with just eight pitches, and immediately after, in the bottom of the inning, leadoff hitter Taiki Narama hit doble, putting a runner on second with one out, fielder’s choice stepped up to the plate for his first at-bat. He connected with the second pitch, breaking ball thrown by pitcher Takahiro Matsuba, who was making his first start of the season, and the ball broke through left-center field.

fielder’s choice sprinted to third base, and then scored another run on a timely hit by Yuki Nomura. This was his second consecutive timely triple to the opposite field. He demonstrated his clutch hitting ability, with a .300 batting average with runners in scoring position (before the game), and his excellent base running skills, which have earned him the second-highest number of triple in the league for two consecutive years.

Written by Ao Yokoyama