On September 5, the 22nd game between Fukuoka Softbank and Saitama Seibu Lions was held at MIZUHO PayPay Dome, and Fukuoka Softbank won 2-0. They secured consecutive wins in the battle for the top spot.

In the bottom of the 1st inning, Fukuoka Softbank had runners on 1st and 3rd with 1 out after consecutive hits by Ukyo Shuto and Kensuke Kondo, and Ryoya Kurihara hit a sacrifice fly to take the lead. In the bottom of the 6th inning, they created a chance with 2 outs and runners on 1st and 3rd through a hit by Yudai Shoji and a Walk. Kurihara hit a timely doble to score an additional run.

Starting pitcher Ryosuke Otsu started by retiring three batters in the 1st inning. From the 2nd inning onwards, he allowed runners for three consecutive innings but did not give up any runs with persistent pitch. After that, he showed great pitching, not allowing a runner to reach 2nd base even once, and shaped the game with 7 innings, 104 pitches, 4 hits, 1 Walk, 6 strike out, and no runs.

In the top of the 8th inning with a 2-0 lead, the second pitcher Yuki Matsumoto retired three batters, and in the final bottom of the 9th inning, Kazuki Sugiyama protected the lead. With a shutout game relay by the three pitchers, Otsu earned his 11th win, tying for the league lead. Kurihara showed a great performance with 2 hits and 2 RBI, reaching 100 RBI in a season for the first time in his career.

On the other hand, for the defeated Saitama Seibu Lions, starting pitcher Chihiro Sumida pitched well with 7 innings, 100 pitches, 6 hits, 1 Walk, 7 strike out, and 2 runs. Although he gave up runs in the 1st inning for the first time in 22 innings, he did not allow any additional runs. In the lineup, Nevin recorded 2 hits, but they could not provide support with only 4 scattered hits and no runs.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Total
L 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
H 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 X 2

L ●Chihiro Sumida-Ryosuke Moriwaki
H ○Ryosuke Otsu-Yuki Matsumoto-S Kazuki Sugiyama

Text by Aoi Yokoyama