◇ Hokkaido Nippon-Ham vs Orix Buffaloes Game 9 (3rd, ES CON FIELD)

Hokkaido Nippon-Ham 's Koki Kitayama pitcher was 9 innings, 121 pitches, 3 hit walks, Hit by Pitch 7 strike out no runs. He decorated the club's 5000th win with shutout game win.

Kitayama pitcher, who became the starting mound in the 7th inning, showed a complete pitch in the first 3 inning. In the top of the second inning, he cleared it with 10 pitches at a good tempo, and in the top of the third, he recorded two consecutive struck out, keeping the opponent's batting line at bay.

In the top of the 4th inning, he hit his first hit with two outs, but he hit Ryo Ota player who had two timely doble in the previous match with a struck out swing. After the 5th inning, build a mountain of hits with a pitch to hit and take it, and line up 0 on the scoreboard until the 8th inning. In the top of the ninth, the good batting order starting from the first is a three-way retirement. In the end, he finished off Ryoma Nishikawa with a swing struck out.

Kitayama pitcher has started four games so far this season, going 1-2 with a ERA 3.28 ERA, which is a bit lacking, but it will be his first shutout game win since April 20, 2024. I want to use this match as an opportunity to improve my condition and contribute to the team's rise to the top.

Text: Aoi Yokoyama