"Today's batting lineup took quite a while to develop," says Shinjo Magic. hitter, who was batting first for the first time, sparked Nippon-Ham fierce attack. | Pacific League

Shinjo’s magic is evident in his first start at No. 1. hitter is the start of the Nippon-Ham onslaught.

Sports Hochi

2025.9.12(金) 06:00

１回無死一塁、右前安打を放つ今川優馬（カメラ・池内　雅彦）

Pacific League Nippon-Ham 10-4 Orix (11th, ES CON FIELD)

Second-place Nippon-Ham won two straight games with lightning-fast offense, closing the gap to two games behind first-place Softbank. They pounced on Orix ‘s second-year left-hander Tomatsu, who was seeking his first professional win, from the first inning, storming through hitter for seven hit six runs. They allowed 16 hit and ran 10 runs, sending the best “sympathy” message to batting coach Yutaka Yagi (60), who was hit directly in the head by a bat and is currently hospitalized. Softbank suffered a crushing defeat to last-place Lotte, marking their third straight loss, and their magic number for winning the championship remains at 15. The heat is heating up again.

The sound just kept coming. Nippon-Ham batting line-up went on a spree, swallowing up Orix pitcher. They hit five consecutive hits off Nomura, hitter was first up in the first inning. They concentrated on seven hit in that inning, scoring six runs in one go. It was the first time they had scored six or more runs in the first inning in exactly four years, since September 11, 2021, when they scored 11 runs. In the first inning of the first inning, the team’s fierce attack, a first under the Shinjo administration, ended with 16 hit 10 runs. They sent their best “cheers” to batting coach Yagi, who is currently hospitalized after being hit directly in the head by a bat.

In the eighth inning of the game Softbank Hawks on the 9th (S-Con), Kondo hit a fly ball to second base and his broken bat went into the first base bench. Coach Yagi, who was following the ball, was hit directly on the left side of his head. While there was no skull fracture, some bleeding and swelling was confirmed in his brain, and he was hospitalized in a hospital in Sapporo. He is expected to be out for about a week, but starting with this game, second-team batting coach Yokoo joined the first team. In the pre-game meeting, head coach Hayashi called out, “Let’s win for Yagi.” Imagawa also expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “When I return, I want to do it with the same momentum as if we were in first place.”

The “Shinjo Magic” was also in place. For the first time this season, Nomura was used as the leadoff hitter against second-year left-hander Higashimatsu, who started the game. Manager Shinjo commented, “Today’s batting lineup took quite a while to get going. When the leadoff batter gets a hit like that in the first inning, it gets you going.” The lineup has changed dramatically since four years ago, and the only man to start in both starting line-up sparked the onslaught. After scoring five runs, with one out and runners on second and third, the team fouled off a hit, but they continued their offensive tactics, ordering Tamiya to pitch a two squeeze.

They broke the bad streak of three straight losses to Orix on the road and now have two straight wins at home. They are now just two points behind the leader Softbank, who lost to them. Manager Shinjo said, “It’s getting more interesting. There’s a sense of tension in every game. We’ve gone beyond the level of just enjoying it. We’ll win under pressure.” We hope they can rest in peace and hope for a speedy return. The batting line-up, which has been fighting alongside Coach Yagi, will pave the way to a comeback victory. (Yamaguchi Yasushi)