"That was amazing. I learned a lot." Nippon-Ham Ham Fighters manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo's secret strategy is spot on. He's in high spirits after the game. | Pacific League

“It was amazing. I learned a lot.” Nippon-Ham Ham Fighters manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo’s secret strategy is spot on. He was in high spirits after the game.

Sports Hochi

2025.10.12(日) 06:00

力投する先発・伊藤大海（カメラ・豊田　秀一）

◆2025 Persol Climax Series first baseman First Stage Game 1 Nippon-Ham 2-0 Orix (11th, Escon F)

The first stage (S) of the 2025 Persol Climax Series Pacific League kicked off on the 11th, with Nippon-Ham, led by manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo (53), defeating Orix Buffaloes and putting them one step closer to advancing to the final S for the second consecutive year. The manager used a clever strategy of entrusting legendary pitcher Nao Miyanishi (40), who made his 900th appearance this season, to pitch a shutout game relay. On this day, outfielder Chusei Mannami (25), who was re-promoted from back pain, hit the winning run, and the batting line responded by scoring two runs against the formidable Yamashita.

Manager Shinjo appeared at the press conference, drew his fists close to his waist, pumped his fist in a fist, and then began speaking in high spirits. “Today, Special Ultra Dynamic General Coach Miyanishi pitched the relief pitching. He was brilliant. I learned a lot from him.” He revealed that he had entrusted relief pitching to the iron-armed 40-year-old Miyanishi, who is currently off the roster, and praised the legendary left-hander for orchestrating shutout game win.

He had been working on this secret plan for three weeks. When Miyanishi was removed from the roster on September 24th, he asked him to “please use the relief pitching role for the first game of the CS.” After that, he brought the left-hander along with the first team as a “coach,” and in the September 26th game against Seibu (Belluna D) he entrusted relief pitching for the first time as a dry run. In the end, he used five pitcher and win 8-5, showing that he was fully prepared.

On this day, ace pitcher Ito was replaced after 115 pitches in the seventh inning, followed by Tanaka in the eighth and Saito in the ninth, who pitched runs relays. “Miyanishi-kun has made 900 appearances over the years in situations where he was under a lot of pressure. He’s close to the players, so he understands their feelings, and I have high expectations of him,” he said, revealing the intention behind his secret strategy.

Miyanishi, who watched the game from behind the bench and gave instructions on the timing of relief pitching, said, “Relief is something I’ve been doing for a long time, so I have more experience than most people,” and he pored over the data before the game. He explained the exact situation of when he would be pitching to the relief pitchers before the game. “I actually want to stand on mound as a player, but my boss gave me the mission as a ‘team unity’. It’s an experience that only my boss could have,” he said, thanking his manager, and immersed in a different kind of fulfillment than usual, saying, “It requires a lot of brainpower, so I almost need some sugar.”

With two outs in the ninth inning, when Sugimoto came up to bat, they were wary of a ball hit towards right-center field, so they switched center fielder Yazawa with left fielder Ichibata. They didn’t let up until the end and win, putting them one step closer to advancing to the finals for the second year in a row. “Winning the first game is huge. I’d like to win 2-1 tomorrow.” With the “Shinjo Magic” shining even on the biggest stage, they will climb the ladder to becoming Japan’s best. (Kawakami Haruki)

Nippon-Ham Fighters manager Shinjo arrived at the stadium in a Lamborghini Revert, an ultra-luxury car valued at approximately 80 million yen. At 9:29 a.m., he emerged from the jet-black car and said, “My beloved Countach has evolved, and I wanted to experience that evolution. It’s evolved so much that it took me about 20 minutes to get started. I didn’t know how to operate it,” drawing laughter. He continued, “The Countach has evolved along with the evolution of The Fighters players. I’ve been enjoying the experience of driving it.”

Main Shinjo Magic this season

▽Changed his mind and pinch-hit (May 31st vs. Lotte = ESCON) Trailing by two runs in the ninth inning with two outs and runners on second and third, Yazawa, who had been prepared to pinch-run, was unexpectedly used as a pinch-hit. He hit a two-run single to center field to tie the game and stole second base, and Gunji’s hit allowed him to score a walk-off-off run. “Why did Yazawa go? It was a hunch.”

Rookie in a big role (July 26th vs. Lotte = same company) In the opening game of the second half, Shibata, the first draft pick out of high school, was used and pitch a perfect three innings. Verhagen, the second pitcher, also pitched shutout game relay, closer the score at runs for six innings, and said, “It was perfect. I’m proud of myself today.”

▽An unexpected tactic (August 5th vs. Seibu = same) Immediately after taking a 3-point lead in the 3rd inning with one out and runners on second and third, he ordered Mannami to execute a 2 squeeze, which was successful = photo =. “If that had been a third fly double play, the haters would have been celebrating.”

batting order hit The first time I saw the game, I was in the middle of the field, and I was so excited to be there.

regular season Nippon-Ham win ◆Record Memo: This is the fourth time that both second-place teams won the first game of the first S of the CS after Chunichi and Lotte in 2007, Hanshin Tigers and Seibu in 2005, and Hiroshima and Lotte in 2011. 2007 and 2011 both made it to the final S, but in 2005 both lost the next two games in a row and were eliminated from the first S. In 2007 and 2011, they both made it to the final S. In 2005, they both lost their next two games in a row and were eliminated from the first S.