[Orix Buffaloes] Kotaro Kobayashi left the game midway through... Hit by Pitch by a pitch near his face guard in his previous at-bat. Manager Mamoru Kishida said, "We'll take him in for an examination," and sent him to a hospital in Chiba Prefecture.

Sports Hochi
In the sixth inning, with no outs and a runner on third base, Kotaro Kobayashi was hit by Hit by Pitch (Photo by Aki Takematsu).

◆ Pacific League: Lotte 2-7 Orix Buffaloes (12th, ZOZO Marine Stadium)

Orix Buffaloes infielder Kotaro Kobayashi started the game as the fifth batter and shortstop, but was substituted out in the sixth defense.

In his previous at-bat, pitch from Lotte's Yagi grazed his left shoulder and hit him near his face guard. He went to the dugout with his trainer for treatment and then resumed playing.

Nevertheless, Noguchi took over at shortstop from the bottom of the defense. After the game, manager Kishida explained about the starting short stop, who had hit a team-high 11 Home Run so far, "He did say he was going to get checked out. (Was the substitution a precaution?) Yes, that's right." He had gone to a hospital in Chiba Prefecture during the game.

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[Orix Buffaloes] Kotaro Kobayashi left the game midway through... Hit by Pitch by a pitch near his face guard in his previous at-bat. Manager Mamoru Kishida said, "We'll take him in for an examination," and sent him to a hospital in Chiba Prefecture.