◇Orix Buffaloes vs Tohoku Rakuten Eagles Game 24 (12th, Kyocera Dome Osaka)

The Tohoku Rakuten Eagles, currently on a 6-game losing streak, have begun their counterattack. Hiroto Kobukata hit a 2-run RBI doble to bring the team within one run.

In the top of the 6th inning trailing 0-3, Rakuten Eagles created a scoring opportunity with 1 out and runners on 1st and 3rd following a Walk by Fumiya Kurokawa and a hit by Daisuke Nakashima. In this situation, Kobukata, who returned to the starting line-up as the "No. 2 second baseman" for the first time in 4 games, stepped into the batter's box. The battle ended on the 3rd pitch. He drove a high two seam fastball from the opposing starter, Espinoza, pitcher into the opposite field.

Against pitcher Espinoza, they faced him with 7 left-handed hitter in the line-up for this game. Although they struggled early on, being completely closer in the first rotation, Kobukata—who has been in good form with 3 hit in 5 At Bat over the last 4 games, including 2 extra-base hits—hit his first RBI since April 11th to signal the comeback. They chased pitcher Espinoza from the mound midway through the 6th inning.

◇Kobukata Comment
"I hit a shootball. I think it's been quite a while since my last RBI. It was a scoring opportunity, so I'm glad I could get a hit." (Relieved)

Text by Aoi Yokoyama