◇ Hokkaido Nippon-Ham vs. Orix Buffaloes, Game 9 (3rd, ES CON FIELD)

Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters' Chusei Mannami hit his 10th home run of the season, a solo shot.

Manami, starting as the number 7 batter and right fielder, had been struggling against opposing pitcher Alen Kuri, striking out struck out in a row. However, in the bottom of the 6th inning with a 2-run lead and two outs, he faced Kuri for the third time today. With a 2-0 count, he connected with a high-floating first baseman strike, breaking ball, sending the ball to the top of the left field stands. It was a home run he knew was a home run the moment he hit it, bringing a valuable additional run to his team.

Manami hit his second Home Run of the series, reaching 10 Home Run in a row, the fastest among all 12 teams. He has now recorded double-digit Home Run for the fifth consecutive year, demonstrating that his renowned power hitting is still going strong this season. The team's Home Run total has reached 40, and we can expect him to continue leading the Home Run lineup, which is currently the top-hit team in home runs.

Written by Ao Yokoyama