Nippon-Ham scores a big win! Saeki points out the difference between the batting lineup and Seibu, saying, “The deciding factor was the scoring position.”
Baseball King
2025.9.15(月) 21:10
◆ “Seibu has had runner in scoring position four times, while Nippon-Ham has had them three times. The number of hit remains the same, but…”
On the 15th, Nippon-Ham faced Seibu and won 12-5. In the 6th inning, Reyes hit his 31st Home Run, followed by a 3-run Home Run by Daiki Asama, who was promoted that day. Then, in the 7th inning, Chusei Mannami came in as a pinch hitter and hit Home Run in 18 games.
While there wasn’t a huge difference in hit—Nippon-Ham had 12 hit and Seibu had hit—Nippon-Ham batting line showed great cohesion and scored a ton of runs. Takahiro Saeki, commentator for Fuji TV ONE’s “Professional baseball News 2025,” broadcast on the 15th, pointed out, “The difference between victory and defeat was the difference in scoring position. Seibu had runner in scoring position four times, while Nippon Nippon-Ham had hitter in scoring position three times. On all three occasions, Nippon-Ham ‘s leadoff batter reached the plate, and they continued to score with infield hits or grounders. However, Seibu had four scoring positions, but their only runs came from sacrifice bunt and sacrifice fly. That’s where the difference in scoring position became apparent.” He continued, “The number of hit didn’t change, but concentration and things like that. Of course, everyone has those things regardless of whether they can hit or not, but I felt like that’s where the difference in team strength, current standings, and momentum came in.”
Saeki also praised the work of the fourth and fifth batters, saying, “I think the way Yuya Gunji and Kotaro Kiyomiya got on base and the resulting runs that led to them were very meaningful in today’s game.”
☆ Cooperation: Fuji TV ONE “Professional baseball News 2025”
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