On March 20th, the open match between Saitama Seibu Lions and Yokohama DeNA held in Belluna Dome was win by Saitama Seibu Lions 4-1.

Saitama Seibu Lions started Natsuki Takeuchi pitcher. In the first inning, when he gave Walk to the lead, he was hit repeatedly and allowed the first run. Still, when they finished the top of the second inning with three consecutive struck out, they carried runner in scoring position in the top of the third inning, but they hit the follow-up and did not runs. After the 4th inning, he showed an outstanding sense of stability with no hit pitch for 3 inning in a row.

The batting line was only 2 hit until the 6th inning in front of the opponent's starter Katsuki Higashi pitcher, and was never able to advance runner to scoring position. However, in the bottom of the 7th inning, there was an enemy error and when bases loaded had a good opportunity with one out, Shuta Tonosaki player hit a two-run timely doble and succeeded in turning the game around. In addition, pinch hitter Takayoshi Yamamura from 2nd and 3rd base scored a timely infield hit to make the score 4-1.

The relief team threw 1 inning each from Masaya Kuroda pitcher and Hakua Iwaki pitcher after the 7th inning, both of which closer to 3 strikeouts. In the top of the ninth inning with a three-run lead, Ryota Itokawa pitcher caused a pinch with no outs on first and second base with consecutive hits, but ended the game with three consecutive struck out.

For Saitama Seibu Lions, which was win, starter pitcher Takeuchi pitched 99 pitches, 4 hit 2 Walk 9 strike out 1 runs in 6 innings. Open match ERA 0.69, and continues to appeal fiercely. In addition, Dora 2nd rookie Hakua Iwaki pitcher, who took the mound in 3rd place, became a 6-game runs-game unbeaten streak in the open game.

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De ●Tohki Azuma - Hayate Nakagawa - Louise
Natsuki Takeuchi- ○ Hakua Iwaki Masaya Kuroda- Hayato Iwaki -Ryota Itokawa

Written by Ao Yokoyama