◆ Pacific League Nippon-Ham 9-2 Orix Buffaloes (30th, ES CON FIELD)

Nippon-Ham Kengo Yoshida catcher (25), who traced a large parabola, hit a ball that powerfully extended in the opposite direction. In the third inning with a one-run lead, one out, runner no pitch. Orix Buffaloes Starter Jerry hit a 142 km/h change-up. He hit a solo homer of the 5th run into the bullpen of right field. Regarding his career-high homer, he laughed and said, "It was a perfect one. Lately, I've been hitting home run so much that even I was surprised, so I'll be careful about traffic accidents."

He set the tone from his very first at-bat. In the first inning, with two outs and RBI on first and second, he hit Jerry's first pitch, a 147 km/h fastball, to center fielder for a go-ahead RBI single. He seized the lead with two hit and two RBIs early in the game. In his last four games, he has 7 hit in 15 At Bat, with 4 Home Run 6 RBI. The man who had only hit a total of 4 Home Run in his three years as a pro until last season has been in a resurgence with 4 home runs in his last 4 games, but he nodded and said, "I'm in good form, it's almost too good to be true, but I was evaluated for my hitting when I came to the pros. Conversely, if I don't perform at this level, I won't be able to play."

On this day, he was again in starting line-up in the unfamiliar position of center field. Depending on how the game unfolded, he could be brought in as defense substitute midway through, so he entered the game with determination, saying, "If I don't produce results early on, I'll lose my chances. I have to establish my position here and now." During the two months he spent in the farm system, he had anticipated being given only one at-bat as a pinch hitter. "I'm going to make sure I get results in that one at-bat," he said, preparing with the tension of a one-at-bat showdown, even when he was in starting line-up.

The team has won three straight games, reaching a season-high 10 games above .500. They finished June with a 16-5 record, placing them in third place but only two games behind the leader, creating a close race in the pennant race. Manager Shinjo is in high spirits over the team's good form, saying, "Ask the players!" Yoshida added, "We want to keep this momentum going and move up to first place, and make sure we don't drop out of first place." Members of the "Millennium Generation," including Manami, who form the core of the team, are pushing the team forward, not to be outdone by their peers. (Yasushi Yamaguchi)

◆Kengo Yoshida: Born January 18, 2001, in Kanagawa Prefecture. Age 25. After graduating from Yokohama Commercial High School and Toin Yokohama University, he joined Softbank Hawks in the 2022 draft as the 6th pick. He transferred to Nippon-Ham in the 2024 offseason active player draft. His main position is catcher, but last season he increased his playing time in outfield to make the most of his batting skills, and he also tried playing second base during this spring's training camp. 181 cm, 94 kg. Right-handed pitcher, right-handed batter.