On August 7, in the 18th game between Saitama Seibu Lions and Fukuoka Softbank held in Belluna Dome, Fukuoka Softbank win 5-2.

Fukuoka Softbank 's starter, Haru Matsumoto pitcher, delivered runner every inning through the bottom of the third inning but also delivered pitch that closed key moments. In the top of the fourth, with Ryoya Kurihara leadoff Walk and two outs and runners on second, Yudai Yamamoto hit a timely doble to take the lead.

Haru Matsumoto pitcher retired all three ba closer tters in the bottom of the fourth, but in the bottom of the fifth, Sena Tsuge hit a solo home run to tie the game. However, in the top of the seventh, with hit and fielder’s choice by player Taisei Makihara, the lineup succeeded in taking the lead with a two-run triple from pinch hitter Tatsuru Yanagimachi with one out, runners on second and third.

Haru Matsumoto pitcher retired all three batters in the bottom of the 7th, closer after 103 pitches in the 7th inning, 3 hit 2 Walk 10 strike out 1 runs and was pulled. Immediately after, in the top of the 8th, Yu Yamamoto added two more runs with a timely triple. In the bottom of the eighth, Yuki Matsumoto pitcher scored 1-runs on a timely doble by An-Ko Lin players, but in the bottom of the ninth, Kazuki Sugiyama pitcher held onto the lead, ending the game 5-2.

win Fukuoka Softbank was a career-high seventh win for starter Haru Matsumoto pitcher. The lineup featured Yu Yamamoto recording 2 hit and 3 RBI, while Kensuke Kondo and Dai Makihara also recorded multi-hit games, leading the team to victory in the first game of the series.

On the other hand, Saitama Seibu Lions started by Mitsunari Takahashi pitcher pitching 98 pitches with 4 hit 2 Walk 6 strike out 1 runs over 6 innings, but Ryosuke Moriwaki pitcher suffered his first runs of the season, and the reliever couldn't hold up. The batting lineup hit Tsuge's first home run since 2022, but they fell short with a total of 6 hit and 2 runs.

123456789 Total
South 000100220 5
West 000010010 2

So ○ Haru Matsumoto-Yuki Matsumoto-S Kazuki Sugiyama
Nishi: Mitsunari Takahashi -● Ryosuke Moriwaki-Shunsuke Sato-Yuta Kuroki

Text by Riho Niwa