Pacific League: Orix Buffaloes 4-3 Softbank Hawks (29th, Kyocera Dome Osaka)

Orix Buffaloes pitcher Yasuto Takashima delivered a brilliant revenge performance. "I was beaten last time, so I went all out today," he said. In the game against the Softbank Hawks on the 22nd at Mizuho PayPay Dome, he had been knocked out in the middle of the fifth inning after giving up six runs. Facing the Hawks for the second straight week, he went full throttle from the very first inning. Led by a fastball that reached 153 km/h, he allowed just four hits and one run over five innings. This earned him his career-high fifth win, his first since the game against Lotte at ZOZO Marine Stadium on July 11.

He has continued the weight training he has been focusing on since his independent training even after the season opening. Between appearances, it has become normal for him to perform squats of 170 kg for 5 reps across 2 sets, and 180 kg for 3 reps across 2 sets. He is also thorough with upper body routines that are often an intentional walk for a pitcher. The weight he handles in dumbbell presses has reached 42 kg in each hand, which is at a "bodybuilder level." A new "worry" has emerged, as he noted, "The gym at Kyocera Dome only has 40 kg dumbbells (lol)," but his self-styled adjustments are supporting his evolution.

The team snapped their two-game losing streak and sits in fourth place, eight games behind third-place Nippon-Ham, who are in a Climax Series spot. Takashima spoke for the team's sentiment, saying, 'We can't afford to lose anymore,' and vowed to grow even further. (Shunta Nambu)