◇ Orix Buffaloes vs. Hokkaido Nippon-Ham, Game 17 (19th · Kyocera Dome Osaka)

Orix Buffaloes In his second year, Ryoma Yamanaka hit his long-awaited first home run of the season.

Orix Buffaloes allowed two runs in the first inning. In their next at-bat, with one out, Yamanaka stepped up to the plate with the score count 0-1 and swung hard at a breaking ball pitch thrown by the opposing starter, Fukuya Yamazaki pitcher. The ball soared high into the air, leaving the opposing catcher right fielder with no choice but to watch it sail past. It was a home run that lifted the team, which had been on a four-game losing streak.

After being called up for the first time this season on May 19, Yamanaka recorded back-to-back RBI hits in his first two at-bats the following day, May 20, against the Fukuoka Softbank.On June 14, in a game against Hanshin Tigers, he hit his first walk-off since turning pro, and had posted strong numbers over 43 games with a .318 batting average and 16 RBI (statistics as of before the game).

◇Comment from Yamanaka
“I was able to aggressively make contact with a pitch that was a bit off the mark. I thought it might have gone a little too high, but I’m glad it made it into the stands.”

Text by Aoi Yokoyama