[Nippon-Ham] Manager Shinjo: “Just as planned” First time in 16 years since 2009, the team has taken the lead and has the most points with 20 points | Pacific League

◆ Pacific League Rakuten 2-4 Nippon-Ham (20th, Rakuten Mobile)

Nippon-Ham, led by manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo, win Rakuten and took sole first place for the first time in 16 years since winning the league championship in 2009. They also have a lead of 20, the most this season. Excluding the years when there were two halves (1973-1982), there have been five times in the past when the team has taken sole first place at the halfway point of the first half of the season – in 1962, 1996, 1998, 2007, and 2009 – and they have won three of those times, in 1962, 2007, and 2009.

The manager is aiming for a 21-point lead in the first half of the season, and said after the match on the 19th, “We’re close to that point, so it’s going according to calculation.”

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・ [Game Details] Rakuten vs. Nippon-Ham
・ [Nippon-Ham] Ryota Isobata a leadoff home run on the first pitch, “I was only thinking about getting on base” – his second professional home run since 2021
・ [Nippon-Ham] Kotaro Kiyomiya, 8th home run, 3-run homer to take the lead: “Thanks to everyone who helped me out.”
・ [Nippon-Ham] Chusei Mannami hits his 15th and 16th home runs in two consecutive at-bats, “I changed my batting style completely”… His lead is now tied for the most this season with 19 home runs.
・ [Rakuten] Lost to Nippon-Ham with 11 hit but only 2 runs, losing their chance to win the championship on their own, Manager Hajime Miki: “We will continue to fight desperately in each game”