◆ Seibu Lions Pacific League: extra inning Orix Buffaloes 11 innings) (31st, Belluna Dome)

Orix Buffaloes won a close game, securing a victory to start the second half of the season. Their record in extra inning innings this season is now 5 wins and 0 losses (2 draws). Ota, in his eighth year as a professional, sealed the win.

extra inning In the 11th inning, leading off, Seibu Lions, he hit a walk-off solo home run—his eighth of the season—over the left-field fence off Yu Nakamura. number, batting cleanup for the 52nd game—a team-high— 1, earned the title of hero with his first-ever three-game home run streak. With one out, Nakagawa and Benibayashi hit back-to-back doble, adding another run.

In the defense of the bottom with a two-run lead, Katayama gave up one run, and with two outs and bases loaded, they were in a crisis of a walk-off-down loss. Yamaoka, who moved up to mound, got Genda to struck out swinging and earned his first save of the season.

Starting with this game, pitcher coach Higa, who had been in charge of bullpen in the first half of the season, moved to the bench, and pitcher coach Atsuzawa was reassigned to bullpen. Manager Kishida explained, "There are several reasons for this. pitcher' numbers were quite poor on the road, so we wanted to have specialist Atsuzawa take over bullpen. We also made the change today in order to build momentum somewhere in the second half of the season."

The topic had been discussed since the three-game series against Softbank Hawks starting on July 21st (at Mizuho PayPay Dome), which ended with a record of one win and two losses. The manager continued, "We'll see how things go. We'll think about it as we go along."