◇Hokkaido Nippon-Ham vs Orix Buffaloes Game 23 (20th, ES CON FIELD)

Orix Buffaloes' Yuma Mune hit a 14th 3-run Home Run to take the lead.

In the first inning, a hit by Ryo Ota and a Hit by Pitch for Yutaro Sugimoto created a chance with two outs and runners on first and second. Entering the batter's box here, Mune caught a high breaking ball from the opponent's starting pitcher, Kohei Arihara, on a 1-1 count. The ball flew straight into the right-field bullpen, bringing a significant opening lead to the team.

Having also hit a temporary go-ahead 2-run Home Run off pitcher Hiromi Ito in the previous game, Mune recorded Home Run in two consecutive games. This marks his fifth Home Run at ES CON FIELD, demonstrating his good compatibility with the stadium.

◇Yuma Mune Comment
"I was able to handle the cutter on a tough course well. It was a bit jammed, but I'm glad it somehow managed to go in!"

Text by Aoi Nishijima