On September 6, the 23rd game between Fukuoka Softbank and Saitama Seibu Lions was held at MIZUHO PayPay Dome, and Saitama Seibu Lions won 5-2.

In the first inning, the lineup created an opportunity starting with a hit by the lead-off batter Canario, and took a 1-0 lead with an RBI doble by Taiga Kojima. In the top of the second, with two outs and runners on second and third, Taiga Kojima's 9th three-run home run extended the lead. Pitcher Natsuki Takeuchi, who received reliable support, pitched tenaciously while allowing runner in every inning. The first half ended 4-0.

In the top of the sixth, the lead-off batter An-Ko Lin added a run with his 8th solo home run. Pitcher Takeuchi gave up one run in the bottom of the sixth, but left the mound after throwing 94 pitches over 6 innings, allowing 6 hit, 3 Walk, and 3 strike out for 1 runs. In the bottom of the seventh, pitcher Hibiki Shinohara made it bases loaded with two outs, but the relief pitcher Shunsuke Sato got the following batter Ryoya Kurihara to ground out to the pitcher on a single pitch. After that, pitcher Yuta Kuroki took over in the bottom of the eighth, and in the bottom of the ninth, pitcher Hiroshi Kaino closed the game despite giving up one runs.

Saitama Seibu Lions, who stopped their losing streak at three, saw pitcher Takeuchi earn his 11th win of the season, a career high. Taiga Kojima went on a rampage with 4 hit and 4 RBI, preventing a three-game sweep. On the other hand, Fukuoka Softbank starter Taiga Kamichatani allowed 5 runs on 7 hit and 3 Walk/Hit by Pitch over 6 innings and 108 pitches. Although the lineup recorded a total of 10 hit, they could not fully capture the opposing pitcher staff.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Total
L 1 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 5
H 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 2

L ○Natsuki Takeuchi-Hibiki Shinohara-Shunsuke Sato-Yuta Kuroki-Hiroshi Kaino
H ●Taiga Kamichatani-Yusuke Ito-Mikuto Kobayashi

Text by Minagi Niwa