[Seibu] First four-game losing streak since opening day in 46 years. Manager Fumiya Nishiguchi says, "It won't be that easy. We need to get our act together again."

Sports Hochi

2025.4.3(木) 17:23

◆ Pacific League Rakuten 4-1 Seibu (3rd, Rakuten Mobile)

One white star is far away. Trailing by three runs with two outs in the ninth inning, Kiyoshi Watanabe was struck out by Norimoto on a wild pitch to struck out, and manager Fumiya Nishiguchi disappeared behind the bench without changing his expression. It was the club's first four-game losing streak since 1979 in 46 years, and the first for a rookie manager. "It's not so sweet," he said nonchalantly.

With two outs in the fourth inning, rookie Kiyoshi Watanabe, the No. 2 pick in the draft, led off the inning with an RBI triple to right-center. Ueda, a second-year right-hander making his first start of the season, tossed five scoreless innings of relief runs, but Haneda allowed four hit to runs three. Despite their offense, they could barely score one run from Kishi, and with no outs in the eighth inning, substitute hitter Dai Nomura hit a single up the middle runner, but Tozaki made a mistake in judgment and started late, failing to reach second base. The coach pointed out that "mistakes like that are very big when you can't hit."

The team placed second in the preseason with 8 wins, 4 losses and 2 draws. The team's batting average of .269 was second overall, and ERA of 1.96 was also first, so the pitching and batting worked well together to start the season, but they unexpectedly lost four games in a row to start the season. "Let's get our spirits up again," said manager Nishiguchi. He is entrusting Imai with his first win of the season in the game against Softbank on the 4th (Mizuho PayPay).