◆ Pacific League Orix Buffaloes 7-13 Nippon-Ham (16th, Kyocera Dome)

On the 16th, Nippon-Ham scored a season-high 13 runs against Orix Buffaloes (at Kyocera Dome). The offense had 15 hit and scored double-digit runs for the second consecutive game, securing a second consecutive win and increasing their lead to a season-high 13 games above .500. outfielder Yuma Imagawa (29), who was promoted to the first team for the first time this season on the 14th, came in as a pinch hitter in the 8th inning with no outs and a runner on first base and hit his first hit of the season, a solo home run over left field. The massive blast that landed in the 5th deck showed his "tenacity". Next, they will take on the formidable "Moinelo" in a three-game series against league leaders Softbank Hawks starting on the 18th (at Escon).

The moment he hit the ball, he didn't even look at where it landed. Nippon-Ham 's Imagawa shouted "Yes!" and began running, savoring the moment. As he reached second base amidst the thunderous cheers, he raised his index finger, and all his teammates in the dugout greeted him with a "tenacity pose," raising their index fingers as well. In the 8th inning with no outs and a runner on first, he connected with Orix Buffaloes Abe's cutter hit his first hit of the season, a two-run homer over left field. "It was perfect. It was my best of the year," he said with a smile.

Without becoming discouraged, he continued to wait for his chance in the minor leagues. His theme was hitting balls that weren't dependent on luck. He focused on the launch angle, even while looking at the numbers. "I've always tried to work hard so that I can produce results when the chance comes." His home run, with a launch angle of 35 degrees and a distance of 126.2 meters, reached the fifth deck. "It was a hit filled with a lot of emotions. I hadn't been promoted even once this year, so I'm happy not only for myself, but also for the fans and my family, that I was finally able to make them happy," he said with a smile.

He's ready for the big job. After being promoted to the team in the game Orix Buffaloes on the 14th, he hit 0-At Bat-3, but manager Shinjo commented, "Imagawa was the only one who hadn't been called up yet. I have high expectations for him, and also because Moinelo will be coming up soon, so I wanted to give him some practice." In the game Softbank Hawks on September 9th last year (at Escon), he had two hit and two RBI, including a home run off Moinelo. He left a strong impression, and expectations are high for the three-game series Softbank Hawks starting on the 18th (at Escon). He responded to the manager's words with sparkling eyes, "I had a feeling it would happen (laughs). No matter who the opponent is, I have to hit to survive, so I'll do my best with all my might."

In his second at-bat in the ninth inning, Imagawa was thwarted by a good defensive play and grounded out to first base. "The angle of my hit was such that it was a ground ball, so if they make a good play, it won't be a hit. I'm still on the brink next time," he said, showing his strong determination. This time, he'll delight the local fans with a parabolic trajectory of a hit over the Escon. (Yasushi Yamaguchi)