◇ Orix Buffaloes vs. Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Game 20 (15th, Kyocera Dome Osaka)

​Yuki Nomura of Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters hit a career-high 14th home run.

In the top of the 6th inning, with a two-run lead, Nomura stepped up to the plate as the leadoff hitter. He swung and missed at the first pitch, an outside curveball, but on the second pitch, he connected well with an inside fastball. The ball made a crisp sound and soared into left field, landing in the lower section of the stands where the fans were waiting. It was a valuable additional run that extended the lead to three runs.

This home run brought his total to 14, surpassing his 2023 record of 13 Home Run. This season, he has also demonstrated his clutch hitting ability with a .358 batting average with runners in scoring position (as of before the game), and has RBI career-high 51 RBIs. He is showing growth as a key player on the team.

Written by Kai Nagi Niwa