◆ Pacific League Orix Buffaloes 6-2 Nippon-Ham (14th, Kyocera Dome)

Nippon-Ham lost the first game of the series after giving up two consecutive two-run homers to So.

Even in lose, one highlight was the game-tying RBI single to center field by pinch hitter Yuki Kiyomiya in the 7th inning with one out and runners on first and third base, trailing by one run. In the game against Softbank Hawks on the 5th (at Mizuho PayPay Dome), he also hit a two-run RBI single as a pinch hitter to temporarily tie the game, and his pinch-hitting record this season is 4 RBI in 7 At Bat, 3 hit, 3 Walk, and a batting average of .571.

Manager Shinjo praised his performance as a pinch hitter, saying, "He's good as a pinch hitter. His concentration and swing are different when he's pinch hitting (laughs). I want him to approach every at-bat, every day, as if he were a pinch hitter. It's probably different when he's in starting line-up. It was a difficult pitch. It's strange (laughs)."

Yuki Kiyomiya said, "I think it was a good at-bat, with various strategies employed." Regarding the good result as a pinch hitter, he analyzed, "It was probably just luck. I do feel the spirit of the team, so when they send me in like that, it motivates me."

However, regarding his role as a "pinch hitter," he said with a wry smile, "I feel like I'm drawing it out myself, being a pinch hitter. After I hit, I thought, 'Oh no, I'm a pinch hitter again.' If I didn't get a hit as a pinch hitter, I'd be in starting line-up, but I have no choice but to get a hit."