◇Fukuoka Softbank vs Saitama Seibu Lions Game 22 (5th, MIZUHO PayPay Dome)

Saitama Seibu Lions pitcher Chihiro Sumida delivered a strong performance, throwing 100 pitches over 7 inning, allowing 6 hit, 1 Walk, and 7 strike out for 2 runs.

Entering this game with a personal streak of 21 consecutive scoreless inning, he faced a crisis in the bottom of the 1st inning with runners on 1st and 3rd after giving up consecutive hit with one out, and allowed a sacrifice fly to Ryoya Kurihara for the opening run. Nevertheless, from the 2nd inning onwards, he showed a good tempo in his pitch, retiring the opponent in order for four consecutive inning. In the bottom of the 6th inning, he gave up a timely doble to Ryoya Kurihara again, but he finished the bottom of the 7th inning in 11 pitches, including getting an out with a pick-off.

With this, pitcher Chihiro Sumida recorded his fifth consecutive HQS. Although he could not achieve double-digit win for the second consecutive year in this game due to a lack of support from the lineup, he fulfilled his role against the powerful Softbank Hawks lineup.

Text by So Yokoyama