◇Hokkaido Nippon-Ham vs Chiba Lotte Marines Game 19 (28th, ES CON FIELD)

Chiba Lotte Marines' Koki Yamaguchi hit a solo home run for the first run, his 26th of the season. With home runs in three consecutive games, he set a new record for the most home runs by a Japanese player in the club's history since moving to Chiba.

In this game, he was moved up to second in the batting order. With one out, he faced the opposing starter, pitcher Koki Kitayama, and despite being down in the count 2-2, he delivered a powerful swing. He pulled an inside curveball sharply, and the ball flew into the top tier of the left-field stands the moment it was hit.

Yamaguchi is in top form, with 6 hits in 20 At Bats, 3 Home Runs, and 4 RBIs in his last five games, including two walk-off hits. His home run in three consecutive games was a memorial shot that broke the club record for most home runs by a Japanese player, previously held by Kiyoshi Hatsushiba. Furthermore, despite not having reached the required number of plate appearances, he is currently ranked third in the league for home runs.

◇Yamaguchi's Comment
"I hit a curveball. I had it in mind because I was beaten by a curveball in our last matchup. I'm glad I could get the first run. I'll do my best next time as well."

Text by Aoi Yokoyama