[Orix Buffaloes] Comeback win puts them back to a 1-game lead. Espinoza earns his 9th win as a foreign player, the first since Albers in 2018. Sugisawa Ryu hits a game-winning solo home run off Softbank Hawks 's "nemesis," Naoyuki Uwasawa | Pacific League

[Orix Buffaloes] Comeback win puts them back to a 1-game lead. Espinoza earns his 9th win as a foreign player, the first since Albers in 2018. Sugisawa Ryu hits a game-winning solo home run off Softbank Hawks 's "nemesis," Naoyuki Uwasawa.

Sports Hochi

July 21, 2026 21:01

In the fifth inning with two outs, Ryū Sugisawa (left) hits a go-ahead solo Home Run run over the right field fence and is congratulated in front of the dugout (Photo by Daisuke Iwata).

◆ Pacific League Softbank Hawks 1-2 Orix Buffaloes (21st, Mizuho PayPay Dome)

Orix Buffaloes came from behind to win, bringing the total to one again. Starting pitcher Espinoza pitched 7 innings with 4 hit, 1 runs, and 8 strike out, setting a new career high. This was the team's ninth win among foreign pitcher since Albers in 2018. He built his pitch around a two seam fastball with a top speed of 154 km/h.

Trailing by one run in the fourth inning, the offense tied the game with three consecutive hits from Nishikawa, Ota, and So with two outs. In the fifth inning, with two outs, Sugisawa hit a go-ahead solo home run to right field, his second of the season. The young pitcher, making his 15th start of the season, sealed the victory. He handed his nemesis, Uwasawa, who had given him the most wins against any opponent before the game (25 wins), his first defeat.

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