◆ Pacific League Nippon-Ham 3-0 Lotte (August 2nd, ES CON FIELD)

On the 2nd, Nippon-Ham secured a decisive victory against Lotte (at Escon Stadium) with both their pitching and hitting clicking. They won their first series of the second half of the season 2-1, bringing their lead to a season-high of 13 games above .500. infielder Naoki Arizono (23), who started at third base and starting line-up seventh, hit a go-ahead RBI double down the right field line with two outs and doble on first in the second inning. He marked his fifth consecutive game with hit and also hit a single to center field in the fourth inning. This was his third multi-hit hit, and his batting average rose to .429. He is maintaining his good form and making his presence felt.

With a powerful, low-pitch fastball on the outside, Yuzono swung through without losing the bat. In the second inning, with neither team scoring scores, two outs and a runner on first. He rebounded Lotte's starter Jackson's 154 km/h pitch. line drive Sex's ball bounced down the right field line. First base runner Yuki Kiyomiya, who had started the game, scored in a flash, and the open-air Escon was enveloped in cheers. He nodded at doble the right-field line that took the lead, saying, "I was determined to score first."

It was a hit packed with growth. count The sixth pitch from 2-2. "I was under pressure, so I was able to hit fastballs while caring for breaking ball. That's what I did in the farm team. I was able to do that kind of batting in the farm team, so maybe I've grown to be able to do that in the first team." With breaking ball in mind, he finished the pitcher fastball from the first team and expressed his confidence.

This marks his fifth consecutive game with hit. He has started in four consecutive games since the final game of the first half of the season on July 26th, when he hit his first professional starting line-up run, and has left a strong impression with a batting average of .429, but he is not at all complacent. "I'm only thinking about getting results. If I don't do well today, I'll be sent down to the farm team. I'm playing with the determination to get results no matter what." He maintains his "full concentration" without letting his guard down for a single moment, including in his third base defense.

The team capitalized on their limited opportunities and won the first series of the second half of the season. Manager Shinjo, who actively moved runner, praised his players for executing his plan, saying, "I envisioned stolen base at the right time for Kiyomiya, and then Arizono hitting a long ball to score. It worked out perfectly." The fifth-year high school graduate slugger, who has hit four long balls since being promoted to the first team, all to center fielder or right field, analyzed his performance, saying, "I think it means my bat is coming through well. I think I'm in good condition." He is producing plenty of his signature long hits and is poised to quickly secure a regular position in the lineup. (Yasushi Yamaguchi)