It was a debut match for the locals with harvest and challenges. Nippon-Ham’s first Hokkaido rookie horse, Ito Oumi (23 = Tomakomai Komazawa), started open play (Sapporo Dome) with the giant on Day 7. He was expecting around 80 balls in the fifth inning, but the result was 4 hits, 3 walks and 3 runs in the fourth inning. The fastest straight ball was 151km, and he struck out two while making the most of the ball change, but it was a pitch where he could see the problem in the pitch when he carried the runner on his back.

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It was a home debut game that you could never say you were satisfied with. Regret seeped from Ito’s face. The first voice after the game was “It was a really disappointing launch. The problems are so clear that we have to work on them from the beginning.” 4 hits, 3 walks and 3 runs against the giant who has won the Central League in a row. “I’m sorry I couldn’t pitch 5 innings. There are 3 dead balls in 4 innings, so I wonder if that’s an improvement,” he said.

The challenge is to throw after carrying the runner on his back. The scene where Wheeler, who hit base after two deaths in the second inning, decided to steal second base is symbolic. He expanded the pinch with back-to-back hits and presented Kajitani with a spot-on two-point hit in first place with the bases loaded. “It’s quick and uses in the meantime. I have to pack more,” she bit her lip.

It was the first time the harvest had been done four times on this day. “I’m sure I can’t hit it easily so I thought I shouldn’t hide it.” Matsubara and Akihiro were initially hit in a row with a vertical slider.

The Sapporo Dome mound was the first time since he climbed in the red and white battle before participating in the selected Koshien during the Komadai Tomakomai era. “I like the high, hard mound, so it was easy to pitch,” he said on the field for the first time in about seven years. Mother Masami (51), younger brother Shunkou (12) and Grandmother Hatsue (74) ran to the stage to cheer. “Shine” by Jagwar Twin and western music are selected as songs. I liked the nuanced lyrics, “It’s not all that works, but I’m aiming for the top.”

Director Kuriyama watches the rookie and says, “As I say many times, good or bad, I hope I can move forward believing that various things will be positive towards the opening.” To get into the opening routine, Dora 1 Rookie said: “The challenges are very clear. We have to keep up with the professional level.” Next time, I will climb the mound of the house in a more evolved form.[Junichi Yamazaki]

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