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

Orix Buffaloes pitcher Anderson Espinoza earned his eighth win of the season, the most on the team and a career high. Mixing his fastball, which reached a top speed of 153 km/h, with a variety of breaking ball, he allowed only four hit and two runs over seven innings. "Of course I'm happy, and I want to continue practicing hard and do my best to get the next win," he said with a broad smile.

In the seventh inning, with a two-run lead, he was in a pinch with two outs and runners on first and second with hit and Walk. Even so count, with the score at 2-2, he missed pinch hitter Yamazaki at a low 152 km/h two seam fastball and retired him to struck out. On the 94th pitch, he made the best pitch and made a fist pump on the mound. "The pitch went exactly as I imagined, and I got the struck out. My emotions exploded," he recalled with a smile.

The team came from behind to win, securing their first series win in two series and putting them four games ahead. The right-handed pitcher, in his third year in Japan, who reached 20 career wins in NPB, looked ahead, saying, "The season is still long. There are still plenty of chances to get back to first place. The team is in great shape, and I want to continue pitch in a way that leads to win."