◇ Orix Buffaloes vs. Hokkaido Nippon-Ham, Game 19 (14th · Kyocera Dome Osaka)

Orix Buffaloes A Yuma Mune player hit a two-run homer—his ninth of the season—to briefly take the lead.

Trailing by one run in the bottom of the 6th inning, leadoff hitter Keita Nakagawa hit and sacrifice bunt put a runner on second with one out, bringing Mune to the plate for his third at-bat. He swung at the first pitch—a low inside fastball—thrown by the opposing starter, Kota Tatsu pitcher, he swung at the first pitch—a fastball low and inside—and sent the ball soaring into the right-field stands. With this, Mune recorded a hit and a RBI for the third consecutive game. It was his first home run since the August 3 game against Tohoku (Rakuten Eagles), tying his career-high of 9 Home Run set in 2021.

◇ Comment from Mune
“Waka-san (Kenya Wakatsuki) hit a solid single to set up the opportunity, and since I’d been closer in my previous two at-bats, I channeled that frustration into this hit.”

Text by Riho Niwa