◆ Pacific League Nippon-Ham 1-0 Rakuten Eagles (September 9th, ES CON FIELD)

Nippon-Ham won a close game against Rakuten Eagles with a "Shinjo Special." In the 7th inning, with no outs and a runner on first base, a "bunt-and-run" was successful. With one out and a runner on third base, outfielder Chusei Mannami (26) hit a timely infield hit to shortstop, which proved to be the winning run. Starting pitcher Kohei Arihara (33) threw 118 pitches over 9 innings, allowing 6 hit strike out 11 batters to earn his 4th win and his second consecutive shutout game. In the 3rd inning, he recorded his 1000th strike out becoming the 161st player in history to do so.

After securing the 27th out with a weak fly ball to right field, Arihara slapped his glove with satisfaction. While Rakuten Eagles starting pitcher Kosha also pitched well, Arihara threw 118 pitches over nine innings, allowing only six hit and no runs, strike out 11. He earned his fourth win of the season with his first two consecutive shutout game and his second 1-0 shutout game, nodding and saying, "I think my fastball was good, and defense was good, and Shindo led me well, so I was able to pitch in a good rhythm."

He also reached a milestone. By striking out Nakajima three times struck out, he became the 161st professional baseball to achieve 1,000 career strikeouts strike out. His fastball, which topped out at 151 km/h breaking ball, was also effective, and he capped off the game with his first double-digit strikeout performance of the season strike out.“It’s the safest way to get an out. But since I don’t have struck out very often pitcher, I do want to get more outs in key situations,” he said with a laugh.

A series of shutout game blew away his slump in the first half of the season. Manager Shinjo praised him highly, saying, "He was amazing. The sharpness of his fastball and the way fork dropped. I think he's got his feel back." Arihara declined to take the podium after his intense pitching with the roof open, saying, "It was really hot, and I felt like my legs were cramping." The right-hander, who said, "There's no doubt I'm pitching with more confidence than I did in the spring," will be showing his true potential in the crucial summer season. (Yasushi Yamaguchi)