◇ Chiba Lotte Marines Against Yokohama DeNA 'Nippon Life Interleague 2026' First Round (12th, Zozo Marine Stadium)

​Chiba Lotte Marines Koshiro Hiroike pitcher pitched 8 innings with 113 pitches, 6 hit 3 walks, Hit by Pitch 5 strike out 2 runs in 8 innings.

In his previous appearance, pitcher Hiroike gave up 4 runs in the 6th inning and became lose pitcher. In this match, he started the race with three riders retired in order, including a top speed of 153 km/h from the very first inning, including two consecutive struck out. However, right after Koki Yamaguchi scored the first run with his eighth solo homer, control was unstable in the top of the third inning. With two Hit by Pitch outs, runners on first and second, he gave up consecutive RBI hits, allowing the lead in two runs.

Still, he held on to runs in the top of the fourth, and from the fifth onward, he retired three batters in a row with three consecutive inning. He reached his longest mound in the top of the eighth inning, allowing doble in a matchmaking match with two outs and infield innings. At this point, he threw 104 pitches, nearly pitch his most of 105, giving Walk to the next pitchers, but ultimately retired Toshiro Miyazaki to struck out a swing.

pitcher Hiroike set a personal record of inning and the most pitch. Although there was no winner or loss, the team's tenacious pitch led to two consecutive walk-off win games.

◇ Comment from pitcher Hiroike
"In the early stages, I had quite a few runner carrying and Hit by Pitch a lot, and I almost gave myself away, but because I was good at fastball today, I was told my arm was loose during the breaking ball, and when I changed my mindset partway through, my hitter reactions also changed, so I was able to fix that and I think I was able to pitch up to the eighth inning, reliever I think we were able to make things easier for us as well."

Text by Ao Yokoyama