On July 5, in the 14th game between Orix Buffaloes and Saitama Seibu Lions held in Kyocera Dome Osaka, Orix Buffaloes win 3-1.

Orix Buffaloes In the bottom of the second, Ryo Ota hit his fifth solo home run to take the lead. In the bottom of the sixth, leadoff Yuma Mune reached base at hit, and with one out and runners on second, Ryoma Yamanaka added another run with a timely single. With two outs and a runner on second, Tomoya Mori hit a timely single, extending the lead to three runs.

Starting pitcher Espinoza pitcher retired all three batters in the first inning after eight pitches, then delivered a stunning pitch by closer Saitama Seibu Lions 's lineup to just one hit through the fifth inning. In the top of the seventh, with two outs, he gave up one run on three consecutive hits, but retired the next pitcher in struck out, and after throwing 85 pitches, 5 hit no walks Hit by Pitch 2 strike out 1 runs he was pulled.

In the top of the eighth, Ren Mukunoki pitcher connected with no runs, and with a two-run lead, Machado pitcher retired all three batters to close the game. Orix Buffaloes win 3-1, Espinoza pitcher earned his seventh win of the season. Meanwhile, Saitama Seibu Lions Chihiro Sumida pitcher pitched 6 innings with 90 pitches and 5 hit no walks Hit by Pitch 4 strike out 3 runs. The lineup scored one run late in the innings but couldn't mount a comeback, resulting in a six-game losing streak including a tie.

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Nishi ● Chihiro Sumida-Ryosuke Moriwaki-Taishi Mameda
O ○ Espinosa -Ren Mukunoki- S Machado

Written by Aoi Nishijima