◆ Analyzing the 5th Inning: “base running” Mr. Nomura: “There’s a fine line between a ‘good base running’ and a runaway pitch.”

Orix Buffaloes faced Softbank Hawks on the 21st and win 2-1. In the tied fifth inning, with no outs and a runner on second, Kenya Wakatsuki grounded out to shortstop, and while throw to first base, runner and Sho Gibo attempted to reach third base but also got out base running. The following Ryu Sugisawa hit a Home Run.

On the Fuji TV ONE program "Pro baseball News 2026" aired on the 21st, they examined a costly base running error that cost them a golden opportunity, even though they took the lead shortly after. MC Mitsuru Manaka recalled, "With no outs and a runner on second base, after a failed bunt attempt, Gibo wanted to go to third base." Commentator Toshiaki Imae analyzed, "Of course, he would have gone automatically if it was a ground ball to the opposite field. He could have gone if third baseman was playing shallow, or if it was a deep ball between third and third base line, but the ball was caught at about the defense of short stop shallow. So even if he ran the moment the ball was thrown, the distance was short, and it would have been difficult to go from there. I think he panicked a little." Manaka also said, "I understand his feelings, but it wasn't the right distance or situation to go."

Another commentator, Hiroki Nomura, pointed out, “There’s a fine line between a ‘good’ play base running and running out of control, isn’t there? Looking at this, short stop you can see that Gibo’s position when he made the catch was right on the ant-coating, so starting from there, it does feel like he might have pushed it a bit too hard.Since he started running from inside the canvas near the base, I feel like it was a bit of a stretch to try to make it from there,” Mr. Nomura pointed out. Mr. Manaka summarized, “I fully understand his desire to reach third base since it was right after a bunt, but I don’t think it was the right time to push it. It was a bit of a wasted opportunity.”

☆ Cooperation: Fuji TV ONE "Professional baseball News 2026"