On July 21st, the 13th game between Fukuoka Softbank and Orix Buffaloes, held at MIZUHO PayPay Dome, ended with Orix Buffaloes win 2-1.

Starting pitcher Espinoza gave up a go-ahead solo home run to Keita Yamamoto in the bottom of the second inning, but held the opposing lineup to just two hit thereafter. In the top of the fourth inning, the offense tied the game with three consecutive hits from Ryoma Nishikawa, Ryo Ota Ota, and Yuma Mune So, and then in the top of the fifth inning, Ryu Sugisawa hit his second solo home run of the season to take the lead.

pitcher Espinoza pitched seven innings, throwing 116 pitches, allowing four hit two Walk, strike out runs eight, and giving up one run before being relieved in the eighth inning. Ren Mukunoki retired pitcher in order in the bottom of the eighth, and Machado closed out the game in the bottom of the ninth. Orix Buffaloes won their second consecutive pitcher, and pitcher earned his ninth win of the season. Sugisawa hit the game-winning home run, his first since his professional Home Run on June 21st.

Fukuoka Softbank suffered a defeat, ending their four-game winning streak. Starting pitcher Naoyuki Uwasawa pitched well, throwing 108 pitches over six innings, allowing seven hit strike out eight while giving up two runs, but the offense was ineffective, managing only five hit and one run.

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O 000110000 2
So 010000000 1

O ○ Espinosa -Ren Mukunoki- S Machado
So ● Naoyuki Uwasawa-Hikaru Kimura-Shunsuke Iwai-Toshiya Nakamura

Written by Kai Nagi Niwa