◆パ・リーグ　オリックス１―５日本ハム（１９日・京セラドーム大阪）

Nippon-Ham win Orix Buffaloes (at Kyocera Dome), increasing their lead in the standings to 11 games. Starting pitcher Fukuya Yamazaki (33) pitched 5 innings, throwing 67 pitches, allowing 3 hit and 1 runs, earning his 3rd win of the season. This was pitcher win at his former home stadium, Kyocera Dome, since joining Nippon-Ham in 2024.

Yamazaki tapped his glove with his left hand and left mound with a brisk gait. In the fifth inning with two outs, he retired Fukunaga with a foul fly ball before being taken out of the game. "My control was good. I was especially able to concentrate on pitching after I allowed runner on base," he said with a relaxed expression. In the first inning, he gave up a solo home run to Yamanaka, but he used his fastest 142 km/h fastball, change-up and cutter to baffle the Orix lineup. In the third and fourth innings, he allowed the leadoff batter to double play, but in both cases he induced double plays to prevent any further runs.

On this day, he teamed up with Yu Shimizu as his battery partner for the first time in about two years, since the game Rakuten Eagles on June 21, 2012 (at Escon), where he pitched well, allowing only three runs in seven innings. Before the game, they discussed that he would "basically nod to Yu Shimizu's signs," and he pitch at a good tempo. "I'm pitcher who changes speeds, so he's good at bringing that out. He used the pitches I wanted to throw at the right times, so it was really great," he said, expressing his gratitude for his junior's leadership.

Manager Shinjo praised him, saying, "He threw with good tempo and in good spots, and got two double plays? That's more than enough." The skilled left-handed pitcher with a proven track record is making his presence felt. (Haruki Kawakami)