On July 15, in the 13th round between Hokkaido Nippon-Ham and Fukuoka Softbank held in ES CON FIELD, Hokkaido Nippon-Ham win 7-6. They ended their losing streak at 2.

Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Starting pitcher Takayuki Kato pitcher runs two in the top of the second inning with three consecutive hits by Ryoya Kurihara, Yuki Yanagita, and Tatsuru Yanagimachi. In the top of the fourth, he gave up Kurihara's 26th solo homer but maintained the lead, and was taken out after throwing 89 pitches, 8 hit, no walks Hit by Pitch 7 strike out 3 runs (earned runs 2) over 5 innings.

The lineup took the lead in the bottom of the first with a timely doble by player Tatsuki Mizuno. In the bottom of the second, player Yuya Gunji tied the game with a timely hit, and in the bottom of the third, player Chusei Mannami hit a series of fielder’s choice hits to first and second with a series of hits, then player Yuki Nomura hit a timely single and Taiki Narama grounded out to infield, giving the team a two-run lead. In the bottom of the fourth, Mannami added another run with a sacrifice fly.

In the top of the sixth, Kenta Uehara pitcher and in the top of the seventh, Leo Shibata connected with a runs, and in the bottom of the seventh, Nomura hit his 12th two-run homer to pull away. However, in the top of the ninth, Seigi Tanaka pitcher gave up one run on a timely hit by Shuto and was taken out. With one out and bases loaded behind, Mizuki Hori pitcher allowed two runs from Taisei Makihara 's RBI hit, but then retired Kurihara and Yanagida for consecutive struck out, ending the game 7-6.

pitcher Kato reached double digits win in Pacific League fastest pitch. In the 13 hit 7 runs lineup, Nomura recorded 3 hit 3 RBI including a two-run homer, and Reyes recorded 3 hit. The losing Fukuoka Softbank saw starting pitcher C. Stewart Jr. pitcher throw 74 pitches in 2.1 innings, 6 hit 3 Walk 4 runs. The lineup had 14 hit 6 runs scored, but they fell just short of that.

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●C. Stewart Jr. -Gota Suzuki- Hernandez -Yuki Tsumori-Yusuke Ito-Toshiya Nakamura
Japan ○ Takayuki Kato-Kenta Uehara-Leo Shibata- Kota Kota Tatsu-Seigi Tanaka- S Mizuki Hori

Text by Ryohei Shoji