[Softbank] Kensuke Kondo had 4 hits, including 2 hit 3 RBI to Sho Nakata’s entrance song, “I feel grateful and thankful for the hard work.”
Sports Hochi
2025.9.21(日) 05:00
Pacific League Softbank 4-5 Orix (20th, Mizuho PayPay Dome)
Softbank ‘s Kondo forced himself to play and went wild. “I’m not feeling too well. Since I’m playing, I just want to focus on the results,” he said, battling back pain as he recorded four hits, including two hit, and three RBI. The team’s eight-game winning streak against Orix came to an end, and they’re now just seven away from winning the championship. Although they lost the first game of their final nine-game streak, the recovery of their star hitter was a positive sign.
The bat was designed to express his respect for Chunichi Dragons’ Nakata, who played his retirement game on the 19th. “I feel gratitude and appreciation for his hard work. He’s been like an older brother to me (four years older than me) since I was young,” he said, using Beagle Crew’s “My HERO,” the entrance song for Nakata, who was his cleanup hitter during his time with Nippon-Ham. In his first at-bat in the first inning with runners on first and third and no outs, he hit a timely single to take the lead, and in the fifth inning he hit his ninth solo home run, his first in 22 days. He hit a single to center hit in the seventh inning to record his first multi-hit game in 48 days, and then in the ninth inning he hit his 10th solo home run, his first four-hit game of the season.
In his first appearance in three games, against Nippon-Ham on the 18th, he had five tacos, including four struck out, but it was a drastic change after only one day in the middle of the season. He was not at full fitness, so I’m not sure how much longer I can keep him in the lineup,” Kokubo explained. I’ll talk with him about it,” said Kokubo, explaining that his decision would depend on his physical condition on the day of the game. The earliest the championship can be decided is the 24th. He is an indispensable player for the remaining 11 games on the V road. (Koichiro Shimao)
Related News
・ [Scoreboard] Softbank vs. Orix
・ [Softbank] Kensuke Kondo had four hit, including two homers, and Nakata Sho’s entrance song was “with gratitude and thanks for your hard work.”
・ [Softbank] Manager Hiroki Kokubo, on the scoreless run with bases loaded loaded and no outs, said, “That’s what happens baseball.” Kensuke Kondo said, “My health is not good.”
・ [Softbank] 5-game winning streak stopped. The 8th inning saw a bases-loaded, no-out bases loaded, and in the 9th, Kazuki Sugiyama allowed the lead to be taken. Kensuke Kondo had 4 hit, including 2 homers.
・ [Softbank] Manager Hiroki Kokubo to retiring Yuto Mori: “If you feel you have done your best, you will have a happy baseball life”
AloJapan.com