◆ Pacific League Orix Buffaloes 2-3 Lotte (26th, Kyocera Dome Osaka)

Orix Buffaloes manager Mamoru Kishida held a press conference to summarize the first half of the season. In his second year as manager, the team has a record of 46 wins, 46 losses, and 2 ties after 94 games, placing them 4th in the Pacific League. "We held on well in April and May, but things started to get a bit tough around June (we had losing records for two consecutive months in June and July). We've had a lot of injuries, but the absence of starting pitchers Miyagi and Peta (Yamashita) has really taken its toll since June..." he reflected.

He emphasized, "Both pitcher and fielder have worked hard, and fielder have scored runs effectively. There were no errors in defense, and everyone played with a high level of awareness." As for the starting pitchers, Espinoza achieved a career-high 9 wins, and Kuri has earned 7 wins, including one time with 4 days rest and three consecutive games with 5 days rest. He praised them, saying, "They are the pillars of the team. Their condition is adjusting smoothly, and they are pitching carefully in the games."

Amid a string of injuries, Mukunoki, the team's first-round draft pick in 2021, has recorded a league-leading 25 hold as the "eighth-inning man." "After recovering from the Tommy John surgery (which he underwent in 2022), he has moved to reliever and made a complete comeback. I think he's throwing some fantastic pitches, and he's mentally strong," he praised. Among fielder, young players such as Watanabe, Yamanaka, and Sugisawa have emerged. "These young players are showing the results of what they've steadily built up," he nodded in agreement.

On the other hand, one area of concern was how to play on the road. At home, they have a winning percentage of 71.1% with 32 wins, 13 losses, and 1 tie in 46 games, but on the road, they struggle with a winning percentage of 29.8% with 14 wins, 33 losses, and 1 tie in 48 games. "pitcher' ERA (4.94) isn't very good on the road. There are a lot of smaller ballparks, so I think there were many times when they were being too careful and lost count, and they also couldn't stop the consecutive hits," he analyzed. "I want them to be able to play with confidence and attack aggressively," he continued.

After the All-Star break, the team will enter the second half of the season with the game Seibu Lions on the 31st (Belluna Dome). "None of us have given up yet, and we want to work together as one. We will continue to aim for the top," he concluded the press conference.