On July 18th, in the 14th game between Tohoku Rakuten Eagles and Saitama Seibu Lions held at Rakuten Eagles Mobile Saikyo Park Miyagi, Tohoku Rakuten Eagles won a close game 3-2, extending their winning streak to four games.

Tohoku Rakuten Eagles took the lead in the bottom of the second inning with McCusker 's 12th home run of the season. However, starting pitcher Kosei Shoji gave up a game-tying RBI single to Takuya Hiruma in the top of the third inning. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Hikaru Ota hit a go-ahead solo home run, his second of the season, but in the top of the sixth inning, he allowed another RBI single that tied the game again.

In the top of the 7th inning, with the score tied at 2-2, pitcher Shoji retired the side in order. He left mound after 7 innings, having thrown 115 pitches, hit 6 hits, 2 Walk strike out 8, and allowed 2 runs. In the bottom of the 7th inning, the offense created a scoring opportunity with Walk and a hit by Itsuki Murabayashi, putting runners on first and second with no outs. Then, with two outs and a runner on third, third-round draft pick rookie Akira Shigenaga hit a timely single, his first professional hit, to take the lead.

In the top of the 8th inning, Katsutoshi Tai pitcher Tai Shori held on to the one-run lead, and in the top of the 9th inning, Shoma Fujihira pitcher the win, ending the game 3-2. Starting pitcher Shoji earned his fifth win of the season, his first in about two months. pitcher Tai also recorded his first professional hold. Offensively, McCusker recorded two hit, including Home Run, and one RBI.

Meanwhile, the defeated Saitama Seibu Lions saw their starting pitcher, Natsuki Takeuchi, complete game game for the second time this season, throwing 107 pitches over 8 innings, allowing 6 hit 1 Walk 3 runs. The offense came close to tying the game twice, but ultimately fell short.

123456789 total
West 001001000 2
Raku 01001010X 3

Nishi ● Natsuki Takeuchi
Raku ○ Kosei Shoji-Katsutoshi Tai- S Shoma Fujihira

Written by Ao Yokoyama