◇ Chiba Lotte Marines vs. Fukuoka Softbank 19th Round (26th, Zozo Marine Stadium)

Chiba Lotte Marines Naoya Masuda pitcher became the ninth pitcher in history to reach 800 career appearances. With a brilliant fastball and tenacious pitch, he finished the Memorial runs without pitching.

In the top of the eighth, trailing by two runs, pitcher Masuda was entrusted with mound as the fifth pitcher. When he gave the leadoff Walk, the following Yuki Yanagita player was hit by a hit. He then faced a bases loaded crisis with one out, but from there, he showed his strengths. He let go of Ryuta Hirose with a fastball of 149 km/h and got struck out out, then held off the next pinch hitter Akira Kawase with four consecutive fastballs from count 2-2.

He joined Chiba Lotte Marines as the 4th pick in the draft, and in his rookie year of 2012, he appeared in 72 games. He posted an impressive record, recording 43 home runs with a ERA of 1.67 and earning Rookie of the Year award. The following year, he was appointed closer and set the record for most saves with 33 saves. He continued to support bullpen, and in 2021, he won his second save title, becoming the fifth player in history to reach 250 saves by the game against Saitama Seibu Lions on the 4th.

◇ Records of pitcher Masuda
First appearance: March 30, 2012, against Tohoku Rakuten Eagles
500 appearances, August 28, 2020, Orix Buffaloes game
600 appearances, April 12, 2022, Fukuoka Softbank game
150 hold June 11, 2022 vs. Yokohama DeNA
700 appearances, September 27, 2023, Hokkaido Nippon-Ham game
250 saves August 4, 2026 against Saitama Seibu Lions

Text by Ao Yokoyama