Nippon-Ham pitcher Hiromi Ito (29) will start in the game against the Seibu Lions (Belluna) on the 12th, aiming for his 10th win. On the 11th, he made adjustments at his home stadium, ES CON FIELD. Ahead of a battle the team cannot afford to lose in order to rise to second place, he expressed his determination to win against an opponent he has a losing record of 1 win and 2 losses against this season, saying, 'I personally have been beaten by them for a long time. I want to do my best so the team wins and I can also earn a victory.'

In his previous appearance against the Rakuten Eagles on the 5th, he earned his 9th win by allowing 1 runs over 7 innings. Although he secured a win for the first time in 10 games and two and a half months since the Softbank Hawks game on June 19th, the ace does not get caught up in ups and downs. "Nothing has changed. I cannot afford to lose. I want to approach this to ensure I spend my time well." Maintaining his composure, he heads to the mound.

Heading into a battle where a double-digit win for the sixth time and third consecutive year is at stake, he aims to demonstrate an even higher level of pitch. Reflecting on his previous pitch, Ito said, 'It was in good form, but not yet perfect.' He added, 'There were many balls where a gap occasionally appeared from what I was seeking, or rather, a lag occurred between my extremities and my torso. I have been challenging myself to increase the volume of better balls.' He will demonstrate the results of a week spent focusing on eliminating those inconsistencies by achieving the best possible outcome in the game against the Seibu Lions.