[Nippon-Ham] Takayuki Kato fails to secure his league-leading 11th win... pulled from the game in the middle of the 6th inning after giving up 5 hit 3 runs | Pacific League

[Nippon-Ham] Takayuki Kato fails to secure his league-leading 11th win... pulled from the game in the middle of the 6th inning after giving up 5 hit 3 runs.

Sports Hochi

August 2, 2026 06:20

Takayuki Kato was taken out of the game in the middle of the 6th inning (Photo by Masahiko Ikeuchi)

◆ Pacific League Nippon-Ham 3-5 Lotte (August 1st, ES CON FIELD)

Nippon-Ham suffered a come-from-behind loss against Lotte on the 1st (at Escon Stadium), ending their four-game winning streak. Their lead in the standings has fallen to 12 games.

Left-handed pitcher Takayuki Kato (34) started the game but threw 106 pitches through the sixth inning, giving up 5 hit 3 runs (2 earned), failing to secure his league-leading 11th win. In the sixth inning, with the score 3-1 and the bases loaded loaded with one out, he gave up a game-tying two-run doble to Shin Ishikawa, and said dejectedly, "I couldn't hold on in such an important situation, and I'm sorry to the team."