Nippon-Ham pitcher Sachiya Yamasaki (33) vowed on the 31st to defeat the Softbank Hawks for the second consecutive game. In his previous appearance against the Softbank Hawks on the 20th (Es Con Field), he allowed a solo Home Run to Masaki but recorded 6 innings, 3 hits, and 1 runs. Although he did not earn his 6th win because the relief squad was caught, he delivered a masterpiece pitch against a powerful lineup. The left-hander, who will start again on September 1st in the same matchup (Es Con Field) after 11 days of rest, expressed his determination, saying, "They are a strong team after all, so I want to be very conscious of the first pitch and the lead-off batter. I'll try not to let any runner on base before players like Kondo and Yanagita. I hope to demonstrate the power I have."

Although he began this season as a reliever, since making his first start of the year against Yakult on June 6 (at Jingu Stadium), he has boasted outstanding stability with 5 wins in 7 starts and a 1.91 ERA. "I want to make sure I do the basics properly," he said. The team currently sits in third place, 8 games behind the leading Softbank Hawks and 3 games behind the second-place Seibu Lions. The left-hander, who experienced three consecutive titles starting in 2021 during his time with the Orix Buffaloes, remarked, "I've been working within the top three (A-class) since 2021, so this is a crucial period where things can change completely. I feel the weight of this important time." The experienced number 18 will lead the charge into the decisive month of September.