◆ Pacific League: Orix Buffaloes vs. Nippon-Ham (20th, Kyocera Dome Osaka)

Orix Buffaloes pitcher Anderson Espinoza will be aiming for his ninth win in the game against Softbank Hawks on the 21st (at Mizuho PayPay Dome). The foreign right-hander, who has maintained his place in the starting rotation with his neatly braided dreadlocks, showed off a new hairstyle with the nape of his neck trimmed short. He smiled and said it was a "summer style," and also revealed the reason for the haircut.

"Japanese summers are incredibly hot. My neck gets so hot I can't stand it. I was also a little tired of taking care of it, and it was costing a lot of money..." In his third year in Japan, he recorded a career-high eight wins. He has two wins in two games in July. He has also been selected by the manager to participate in the All-Star Game for the second time. "I want to get my next win and head into a good All-Star break," he said enthusiastically.