Another win.
The Orix Buffaloes took the top spot in the Pacific League for three consecutive years. On the 20th, they won 6-2 against Chiba Lotte Marines at their home stadium, Osaka Dome, and burst into champagne.
This is the 15th league championship in total.
In the Pacific League, it was the first three consecutive losses since the Seibu Lions achieved five consecutive losses in 1994.
Two teams from the Kansai region centered around Osaka won both league championships. Orix is based in Osaka, and the Central League champion Hanshin Tigers is home to Nishinomiya Koshien Stadium in Hyogo Prefecture, near Osaka. It’s the same living space.
This is the first time that both teams won at the same time. Hanshin is far ahead of Orix in popularity, but Orix has been overwhelming in recent results.
Orix won the Japan Series last year by defeating Yakult Swallows. Hanshin stood at the top of the Japan Series only once, in 1985. This was the first league championship in 18 years.
Unlike 2021 and 2022, Orix won this time in front of a full crowd at their home stadium.
Orix players running onto the field when last year’s championship was confirmed. Photo source = Orix Buffaloes SNS
In the bottom of the 7th inning, when the team was behind 0-2, the tide changed immediately. 11 batters pitched, giving up 6 hits and scoring 6 runs with 4 outs and 2 hits.
The driving force behind winning is a strong mound. The team’s earned run average is 2.64, ranking first in the league and second among 12 teams in both leagues.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the ace representing Japanese professional baseball, has 14 wins and an average ERA of 1.32. Aiming for 4 wins for 3 years in a row. Hayato Miyagi had 10 wins, and Shunpei Yamashita and Satya Yamasaki each had 9 wins. They have a strong starting lineup, a strong bullpen, and a strong closing line.스포츠토토
There were concerns about the void left by Masataka Yoshida’s transfer to the Boston Red Sox last winter, but he filled it well. Tomoya Mori, who was recruited as a free agent, posted a batting average of .291, 16 home runs, and 60 RBI. Also, Dongu Yuma, who emerged as a central hitter, was in full swing. He is leading the team in batting with a batting average of .377.
At the end of this season, ace Yamamoto will leave for the major league. For Orix, this may be their last chance to win their second consecutive Japan Series.