Lotte Marines pitcher Naoya Masuda (36) spoke to reporters before the game Seibu Lions (at ZOZO Marine Stadium) on the 5th, and reflected once again on the remarkable achievement he accomplished in the game against the Lions on the 4th, becoming only the fifth player in professional baseball history to reach 250 career saves.

She said that the previous night she "was calm but couldn't sleep," and that morning arrived while she was replying to the many congratulatory messages she had received.

In the main lobby of their home stadium, ZOZO Marine Stadium, numerous congratulatory flowers were displayed, sent by players such as Sakamoto, Maru, and Matsumoto of The Giants, Maeda of Rakuten, and Softbank Hawks manager Rakuten Eagles and Kondo. "Maeken (Maeda Ken) said he would bring flowers to the stadium, but he hasn't brought them at all. He contacted me saying he would hand them to me in person, so I contacted him around 1 a.m. saying, 'I'm still waiting at the stadium,' and he said, 'I'll bring them now,' but he still hasn't come," he said with a laugh.

Having reached this milestone, his next goal is to reach 800 career appearances, just five games away. "I'm only five games away from 800 games, so I'm determined to keep pitching and aim for that number of games, and I hope to work hard to reach a goal of 50 games a year from now on," he said, renewing his resolve.