Pacific League The official webzine of the six teams, Pacific League Insight, will continue to bring you videos of memorable plays from the 2025 season to keep you entertained on Pacific League during the off-season! It is being updated daily from Monday to Friday with a theme for each day of the week!
Monday: "First professional records and milestone records" that will be etched in your mind.
Tuesday: "shutout game- Fire extinguishers" full of tension
Wednesday: The flower of baseball! Featuring "home run
Thursday・・・・"Fine Plays" feature Featuring "Fine Plays
Friday... A dramatic ending! Featuring "walk-off
Today, December 12 (Friday), we play back three walk-off timelines recorded this season by Saitama Seibu Lions veterans Takeya Nakamura and Gininro Sumitani.
The veteran scored the first walk-off of the season
First up was the game against Orix Buffaloes on April 27th. Rookie Seiya Watanabe hit two RBI singles to give the team a two-run lead early on, but a two-run homer in the top of the seventh inning tied the game. However, in the bottom of the ninth, with two outs and runners on first and second, 24-year veteran Takeya Nakamura came in as a pinch hitter. He hit a softly pitched fourth pitch into left-center field, deciding the game. On the same day, fellow player Takumi Kuriyama hit his 3,000th career base, so it was a great way to celebrate his close friend's achievement.
20 years of competitive strength! Ginjiro Sumitani's walk-off hit
The next game was against Hanshin Tigers on June 11. First up ... Yutaro Watanabe pitcher runs pitcher The game went into the bottom of the 9th inning with a two-run deficit. Although the first run fell, the fourth Hit by Pitch and infield hit inning went to bases loaded. Sosuke Genda After tying the game with a timely hit by Kuroki Kurokawa, the game continued with two outs bases loaded and a chance to win it. Gininro Sumitani then hit a ball to the right field bleachers to complete the dramatic comeback win.
Sumitani's success continued in September. In the game Orix Buffaloes on the 18th, the team scored points in the eighth inning, but with the score tied at 1-1, another opportunity came in the bottom of the ninth. With one out, Takayoshi Yamamura reached base with hit and advanced to second on sacrifice bunt, and Sumitani was at bat. With count in hitter 's favor at 3-1, he went for a low ball and hit it to left field. bounce bounced incorrectly, causing left fielder runner second to score, sealing a stunning walk-off win.
Although their playing opportunities have decreased, the presence of home-grown veterans is indispensable to the team. Meanwhile, Kuriyama has decided to approach next season as his "final year." As the team is becoming more and more centered around young players, there will be times when the power of reliable veterans will be needed. We look forward to seeing each of them perform well next season.
