◇ Orix Buffaloes vs. Hanshin Tigers "Nippon Life Central and Pacific League Interleague 2026" Round 3 (14th, Kyocera Dome Osaka)

​Orix Buffaloes Ryu Sugisawa player hit two hit, including a timely RBI single that temporarily tied the game.

In the bottom of the fourth, trailing by one run, with two outs and runners on first and third, he entered his second at-bat and hit a game-tying RBI single to right field off the slider of the opposing starter Yuki Nishi pitcher from full count. In the bottom of the seventh, trailing by one run again, he took the leadoff hitter and created a good opportunity with a doble that caught the change-up of Rito Kinoshita from pitcher Kinoshita from count 2-2. After that, sacrifice bunt and fielder’s choice scored to tie the score.

Sugisawa had been sidelined due to the Hit by Pitch he received in the April 14 game, but returned to the first team in the April 10 game against Tokyo Yakult. Both contributed to win with 2 hit that contributed to the scoring.

◇ Comment from Sugisawa (bottom of the 4th, RBI hit)
"I believe that continuing to believe in myself led to this outcome. Yesterday was also the anniversary of Misawa-san's passing, so I feel like I received strength. I believed in 'I will invite,' and stepped up to the plate."

Text by Rihoko Niwa