◇Chiba Lotte Marines vs Orix Buffaloes Game 25 (23rd, Zozo Marine Stadium)

Orix Buffaloes' Ryoma Ikeda hit his first professional Home Run.

Both starting pitchers, 　Alen Kuri and Lucchesi, pitched well, and the game remained 0-0 until the 7th inning, heading into the final stages of the contest. Chiba Lotte Marines were the first to change pitchers, with the second pitcher being Shota Suzuki. Although two outs were recorded, Ikeda took a sharp swing at a fastball that caught too much of the plate on the second pitch, sending it toward left-center field. The ball, which soared high into the air, reached the stands.

In his fifth season out of high school, he was promoted to the first team for the second time this September. He had been struggling to get hits, with 2 hits in 13 At Bats over 5 games, but his first professional Home Run came at the perfect timing.

◇Ikeda's Comment
"I think the pitch I hit was a fastball. The feel was good, so I thought it would go the moment I hit it. (Regarding his first pro HR) I'm incredibly happy. Since it's such a tense situation, I'm even happier!"

Text by Minagi Niwa