[Orix Buffaloes] Revenge successful! Raiku Katayama pitches a perfect inning for his first win of the season. He was knocked out in the game Softbank Hawks on the 22nd as a starter but couldn't record a single out. | Pacific League

[Orix Buffaloes] Revenge successful! Raiku Katayama pitches a perfect inning for his first win of the season. He was knocked out of the game against Softbank Hawks on the 22nd as a starter but couldn't record a single out.

Sports Hochi

July 24, 2026 20:55

Raiku Katayama takes the mound from the 9th inning (Photo by Haruko Yoshimura)

◆ Pacific League Orix Buffaloes 3-2 Lotte (24th, Kyocera Dome Osaka)

Orix Buffaloes Raiku Katayama pitcher managed to get their revenge with just one day off. He started against Softbank Hawks on the 22nd (at Mizuho PayPay Dome), but was knocked out with just 13 pitches and 4 runs, unable to record a single out. On that day, he moved up to mound in the sixth inning with a one-run deficit.

He retired the leadoff batter, Soto, with fork for a fly ball to center field, then got Ueda to ground out to second base with another fork. Finally, he struck out Yamamoto with a 144 km/h fastball for a foul fly ball to first base. In the bottom of the inning, the offense rallied and won walk-off victory. Katayama earned his first win of the season.

The right-handed pitcher, now in his second year, joined the team in 2024 as the sixth pick in the draft, coming from NTT East Japan, a corporate team. He will once again strive to be an indispensable asset to the team.

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