[Pacific League CS] Nippon-Ham Ham base running manager Shinjo is nervous about the winning run: "If only it wasn't Yazawa..."

[Pacific League CS] Nippon-Ham Ham base running manager Shinjo is nervous about the winning run: “If only it wasn’t Yazawa…”

Sports Hochi

2025.10.12(日) 18:16

最終ステージ進出を決め、レイエスとハイタッチする新庄剛志監督

◆2025 Persol Climax Series first baseman First Stage Game 2 Nippon-Ham 5-4 Orix (12th, Escon F)

Nippon-Ham came from behind to win two straight games, securing their place in the final stage of the CS for the second year in a row. Trailing by one run in the eighth inning, with two outs and runners on first and second, Reyes hit a two-run home run over the right field fence to take the lead. Following on from the previous day, Yukiya Saito closed out the ninth inning.

After the game, manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo said, “I feel dizzy,” sounding tired from the fierce battle. “What makes me happiest is that we were able to show this kind of game to all the fans who came today and to The Fighters fans all over the country.”

In the reversal scene, Reyes hit a ball to the pitcher, and the fleet-footed Yazawa came home from first base in one fell swoop. The timing was so exquisite that even Shinjo came off the bench to appeal for a “safe” throw back to him. runner If it wasn’t Yazawa, I would be horrified,” said Shinjo. The cushioning was also very good, and it was a good cut play. If it wasn’t Yazawa or Gojuhata, the game would have ended in a tie,” he praised base running.

He continued, “Yukiya-kun was amazing,” praising Saito for closing out the ninth inning with eight pitches. At last year’s Fan Appreciation Day, he nominated Seigi Tanaka and Saito as closer and used them. “It wasn’t a mistake. He’s come this far and firmly secured that position thanks to Saito-kun’s daily efforts. I gave him one more piece of advice and he’s improved,” he said, laughing, saying, “I can’t say what advice I gave him.”

“From a business perspective, it would be better if we played tomorrow and won,” he said with a laugh, “I almost want to play (the game) tomorrow. With this kind of enthusiasm,” but added, “We’ve become a team that can win like this. Now it’s about how we can fight in the final with the disappointment of last year in our hearts and come back here again. The players have the strongest desire, so I’m going to trust them and go into it,” he said, looking forward to getting revenge on Softbank.