The Pacific League’s ‘strongest’ Softbank Hawks have been away from the championship for the past two years. Last season, it ran first, but lost to 5th place Chiba Lotte Marines in the final match of the pennant race. Orix, which took first place after pushing out Softbank, defeated the Yakult Swallows, the winner of the Central League, and reached the top of the Japan Series. It was the first time in 26 years since 1996 when “Legend” Ichiro Suzuki was active, that the championship trophy was lifted.
Softbank is a team that has reached the top of the Japan Series 7 times in 10 years from 2011 to 2020. From 2017 to 2020, it rose to the top spot for four consecutive years.
Softbank, which had been sluggish for the past two years, has massively reinforced its strength. He brought outfielder Kensuke Kondo, who was released as a free agent from the Nippon Ham Fighters, for the largest ransom ever. This is the player who made a big success as the second hitter for the Japanese national team in the last WBC (World Baseball Classic).
7 years, 5 billion yen. A number of teams, including the original team Nippon Ham, jumped into the recruiting battle, but were unable to overcome Softbank. Softbank boasts a stronger financial power than Yomiuri.
In addition, he signed a contract with Roberto Osuna, former major league salvation king, for an annual salary of 650 million yen. This is the same amount as Orix ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the highest paid player in Japanese professional baseball this year. Oh Soo-na joined Chiba Lotte during last season and recorded 4 wins, 1 loss, 9 holds, 10 saves, and an average ERA of 0.91. Naturally, Chiba Lotte wanted to renew the contract, but it could not compete with Softbank.
Softbank also signed a three-year, 1.2 billion yen contract with right-hander Kohei Arihara, who returned from the major leagues. may
He wanted to fill the void left by ace Senga Godai (New York Mets), who left for the lower league.
Cuban-born Alfredo Despaine, who has been a key hitter for Softbank for a long time, was also recently recruited. He is a slugger who hit 184 homers in 9 years in Japan until last year, and is 37 years old this year. He even called in foreign batters who had not renewed the contract to overcome the sluggish batting.
Softbank, which is competing for the championship with Orix and Chiba Lotte, fell into a deep pit ahead of the end of the first half. After 25 years since 1998, they lost 8 consecutive times.
Orix match held at Fukuoka Dome on the 16th. In the 10th inning of overtime with a 1-1 match, Orix gave up the winning home run to Leandro Sedinho, the fourth hitter from Venezuela.
He lowered the finisher Osuna and hit the top of the 10th inning with Matsumoto Yuki, but was hit by the lead batter. In the bottom of the 10th inning, Softbank finished the offense with three batters.
Before the game, Softbank was strong in overtime. They were on a record of 6 wins and 2 draws in 8 overtime matches.
8 consecutive losses since July 8 against Rakuten Eagles. A total of 15 points were scored during this period. 4 matches ended with 1 goal. No matter how hard it is, it is a serious empty hitter.
Softbank scored the first run in the bottom of the first inning against Orix left-hander Hiroya Miyagi. After 2 deaths, 3rd Kondo hit a double to the center fielder. Then Yanagita Yuki, fourth, scored a point with a timely hit to the left. This was the only score scored in this game.
Reed didn’t last long. In the top of the second inning, Orix lead batter Yuma Mune hit a fastball (145km/h) thrown by Softbank starter Nao Higashihama, lea토토사이트ding to a superior home run. 1-1. Orix had four hits on the day, two of which were home runs.
Softbank ended up scoreless in the chance with two outs and bases loaded at the bottom of the 8th inning. In the third, Kondo struck out on a swing with a fastball (146km/h) in the middle of the 122nd pitch thrown by Miyagi.
3 strikes from ball count 3B. Softbank coach Hiroshi Fujimoto expressed dissatisfaction with the referee’s strike decision after the game. In 3B1S, it was claimed that Kondo’s outside low course fastball was the ball.
