◇ Seibu Lions vs. Rakuten Eagles Game 25 (28th, Belluna Dome)

Rakuten Eagles' YG Yasuda hit his 7th solo home run.

After taking a 3-point lead in the early stages, and immediately after starting pitcher Takayuki Kishi gave up a run, YG Yasuda stepped into the batter's box as the lead-off hitter in the top of the 3rd inning. On the first pitch from the third pitcher, Taishi Mameda, he swung through an outside low fastball. The angled ball was sucked into the right-field stands, extending the lead back to 3 points.

YG Yasuda has been in good form, recording hits in 4 of the last 6 games, including multiple hits in 2 of those games. Although he had been struggling against the Seibu Lions with a batting average of .171 (as of before the game), he produced results in this match.

◇ YG Yasuda Comment
"The pitch I hit was a fastball. Happy birthday, Kobu (Hiroto Kobukata). We will definitely win." (Seriously)

Text by Aoi Nishijima