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

Orix Buffaloes 's Espinoza delivered a powerful pitching performance to show his gratitude to the opposing manager. "I was so happy to be able to pitch well in front of the manager who selected me." The right-hander had been selected for the All-Star Game for the second time in his career by Softbank Hawks 's Kokubo, who leads the Pacific League team. He controlled the game by allowing only one runs over seven innings, using his fastest two-seam two seam fastball at 154 km/h as his main weapon, and earned his ninth win of the season, a personal best in his third year in Japan.

In his first year with the team in 2024, he recorded seven wins in the first half of the season, but then went 16 consecutive games without win over the next season. Last season, when he finished with a 5-8 record, he embroidered the Japanese word for "patience," which he learned from his interpreter Sawamura, onto his glove. His attitude of focusing on his own job rather than wins and losses has led to results, and this season he is within striking distance of the most wins title, which would be his "first time ever." He is keenly aware of Nippon-Ham Kato Takashi, who has the league lead with 10 wins, saying, "I want to be at the top in the end."

He also win his nemesis, Uwasawa, who had given him the most wins against any single opponent (25). The team also averted the crisis of losing its chances of winning the championship on its own. "I love you all." On the victory podium in Hakata, the smile of the foreign player who loves Japan shone brightly. (Shunta Nanbu)