◇ Fukuoka Softbank vs Tohoku Rakuten Eagles 15th Round (12th, MIZUHO PayPay Dome)

Tohoku Rakuten Eagles Tatsuki Koja pitcher pitched a tenacious pitch with 6 innings, throwing 93 pitches with 6 hit 1 Walk 6 strike out 3 runs.

In the bottom of the 1st, pitcher Koja gave up a Walk and hit to leadoff hitter, putting runners on first and third with one out, and allowed the lead to a timely hit by Ryoya Kurihara. In the bottom of the third, Kurihara hit his 25th two-run homer. However, in the bottom of the fourth, despite giving up a hit with two outs, he calmly retired the next batters, and in the fifth and sixth innings, he retired, retiring all three batters in order.

pitcher Kosha made his first first-team appearance in a month since the June 10 game against The Giants, when he was pulled in one runs after an accident. Although he was unable to get the win for the first time since the May 16 Fukuoka Softbank game on May 16, he showed pitch that could take the game.

◇ Koja pitcher Comment
"I couldn't use the pace well in the first half. I don't think the ball I hit was on bad course, so I wish I had delayed my timing a bit more. From the fifth inning onward, I was able to pitch at my own pace, so next time I pitch, I'll adjust to do that from the very first inning," he said with frustration.

Text by Rihoko Niwa