On 4 April, the first round match between Fukuoka Softbank and Saitama Seibu was played in MIZUHO PayPay Dome, where Saitama Seibu win 6-0.

Saitama Seibu started Tatsuya Imai pitcher. In both the first and bottom of the second innings, he had runner in scoring position, but he was able to close out the game and closer runs. In the bottom of the third, he gave up Walk with two outs, but he continued his tenacious pitch by striking out the next two batters.

The offense opened the scoring in the top of the fourth inning with two walk Hit by Pitch s and a hit by Cedeño on a bases loaded and a two-run doble by Daiju Nomura. With runners on second and third with no outs, Shuta Tonosaki followed with sacrifice fly singles, and Yuto Koga connected on a hit to put runners on first and second with one out, and back-to-back RBI singles by Sosuke Genda and Shinya Hasegawa scored a total of six runs in the inning.

With his support, pitcher Imai recorded a total of 6 strike out from the fourth to the sixth innings, showing a complete pitch. In the bottom of the seventh, he loaded the bases with runners on first and second with no outs on Walk and hit, but he didn't allow a comeback by striking out the next two struck out and exiting the mound on 118 pitches in the seventh inning hit 2 Walk 10 strike out and no runs.

In the bottom of the eighth, Shunsuke Sato pitcher closer runs, and in the bottom of the ninth, it was Masaya Kuroda pitcher pinch-hit with one out and bases loaded, but closer on a groundout to end the game with struck out and one out. Kiyoshi Watanabe scored 3 hit and Sosuke Genda scored 2 hit 1 RBI for a total of 10 hit and 6 runs, and the pitching meshed to stop the losing streak from the start of the season at 4. He has won his first win since Fumiya Nishiguchi took over as head coach.

On the other hand, Fukuoka Softbank starter Kohei Arihara pitcher was unable to do his job in 3.1 innings, going 6 hit 3 walks Hit by Pitch 1 strike out 6 runs on 74 pitches. Haru Matsumoto pitcher, the second, pitched well, going 3 hit Hit by Pitch 5 strike out no runs walks on 52 pitches in 3.2 innings.

123456789 total
West 000600000 6
SO 000000000 0

West: Tatsuya Imai, Shunsuke Sato, Masaya Kuroda
So ● Kohei Arihara-Haru Haru Matsumoto-Yuki Yuki Tsumori

Text by Aoi Yokoyama

・ Match details/video