◇ Orix Buffaloes vs. Saitama Seibu Lions Game 13 (3rd, Hotto Motto Field Kobe)

Orix Buffaloes 's Tomoya Mori hit a solo home run—his sixth of the season—to give his team the early lead.

Mori started the game as the cleanup hitter for the DH. In the bottom of the second inning, with the score still 0-0, he stepped up to the plate as the leadoff batter for the hitter. After falling behind 2-0, he connected on the third pitch—a breaking ball—thrown by the opposing starter, Mitsunari Takahashi pitcher.The high-flying ball landed just inside the right-field pole in the front row of the stands, giving his team a crucial go-ahead run.

He was removed from the active roster on June 2 due to upper-body discomfort, but after working on his form in the farm system, he returned to the first team on the 27th of the same month. Since his return, he had been struggling at the plate, with a pre-game batting line of 14 At Bat and 1 hit, but this home run marked his first Home Run since rejoining the first team.

◇ Comment from Mori-tomo
“I hit a cutter. I was able to react well and make contact. I’m glad we managed to score the first run!”

Text by Aoi Nishijima