◇ Hokkaido Nippon-Ham vs. Tohoku Rakuten Eagles, Game 19 (September 9th, ES CON FIELD)

Hokkaido Nippon-Ham took the lead with a timely hit by Chusei Mannami.

With both starter pitching well, the score remained 0-0 going into the bottom of the 7th inning. Leadoff Ryota Isobata hit the team's first hit. On the next batter Tatsuki Mizuno 's sacrifice bunt, Isohata used his impressive speed to advance all the way to third base. At this point, Manami hit the third pitch from pitcher Tatsuki Koja, fastball, to score the first run of the game.

This provided valuable run support to Hokkaido Nippon-Ham 's starting pitcher, Kohei Arihara who had pitched brilliantly through eight innings, allowing only six hit, strike out giving up no runs.

Text by Mao Tsutsui