Are you really going out as a pinch hitter? While preparing for a pinch runner, the coach got a feeling when he asked why he had a two-run tie with a pinch hitter after two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning

Jun 01, 2025

Yajawa, who joined Nippon Ham as both a pitcher and a batter. On May 31, he hit a two-run tie in the bottom of the ninth inning against Chiba Lotte. It laid a stepping stone to a 4-3 walk-off victory. He was preparing as a pinch-runner and suddenly took a pinch-hitter and saved his team. Photo capture = Nippon-Ham Fighters SN

Yazawa comes home to cheer with his teammates at the bottom of the ninth inning when Gunji had a finishing hit after two outs. Photo capture = Nippon-Ham Fighters SNS

Nihonham won the game against Chiba Lotte in the bottom of the ninth inning on May 31. He will start the interleague next week as the No. 1 player in the Pacific League. Photo capture = Nippon-Ham Fighters SNS

I was waiting as a pinch runner, but suddenly the order to go out as a pinch hitter was issued. In the bottom of the ninth inning, trailing 1-3, with two outs and runners on the second and third bases. I never dreamed that I could play as a substitute. I wasn't even holding the bat until then. However, he hit a timely two-run tie. It laid the bridge to a dramatic 4-3 walk-off victory. Nippon Ham Fighters Yazawa Gota (25) infested the crowd of 32,088 people who visited the home turf of Esconfield.

The Chiba Lotte Marines match on May 31. Nippon-Ham opened the scoring. In the second inning, No. 1 Gunji Yuya (28) hit a double that flew over the right field to the fence. A long shot came out with two outs and a runner on first base.

The lead didn't last long. Chiba Lotte's batters turned the mood back at once in the fifth inning. He concentrated five hits against Nippon Ham starter Sachiya Yamasaki and scored three runs. Hisanori Anda, the fourth leadoff hitter, was sent out by a second baseman error, which became a source of concern.

Down 1-3 in the bottom of the ninth. The mood suddenly changed. Nippon Ham's leadoff hitter Kotaro Kiyomiya hit right and pinch hitter Sugimoto hit left. He created a chance by targeting the fastball thrown by the changed pitcher Suzuki Shuta. With a sacrifice bunt, one out, second and third base. Pinch hitter Yoshida Kengo struck out a rookie in the game until the eighth pitch. If I caught one out count, it was Chiba Lotte's victory.

At the time of Yoshida's at-bat, the instructions "Next time out" came. The player, who had been warming up while preparing as a pinch runner from the seventh inning, went out as a pinch hitter. Yazawa is said to have heard about the substitute and asked "Are you sure?"

Yazawa (left) who hit a two-run tie in the bottom of the ninth inning and a walk-off hit. Photo capture = Nippon-Ham Fighters SNS

Director Tsuyoshi Shinjo's choice was right. Yazawa hit a 152 km/h fastball on the ball count of 2B2S. a timely hit in the middle. The Japanese media said 'phenomenal concentration' Two runners came home and tied 3-3.

When asked why he raised Yazawa as a substitute after the game, coach Shinjo laughed, saying, `I got a feeling.' At this point, there is a reason to talk about 'New Magic'.

Second base with two outs. Gunji hit a timely hit that fell on the right-wing line in the closing chance. It ended two hours and 56 minutes into the game. He has won three walk-off victories this year, and all three times Gunji finished the game.

Yazawa is a pitcher and batter who saved his team with "one shot". Like Shohei Ohtani (31, LA Dodgers), a senior who grew up in Nippon Ham and became a `superstar', he is developing his dream of 'Iridu'. Like Ohtani, he joined as a rookie in 2023.

He has yet to show his presence as he has become a hot topic. He pitched in 19 games as a pitcher and appeared in 86 games as a batter. This year, he played 21 games as a batter and posted a batting average of 0.256 with 11 hits in 43 at-bats. He went 4 for 12 with runners in scoring position.

Nippon-Ham is the No. 1 player in the Pacific League in June. It is 1.5 games behind the second-place Orix Buffaloes. From next week, the Central League and the Interleague will begin.

Yazawa is a player who doubles as a pitcher and batter. This year, he is playing only as a batter. Photo capture = Nippon-Ham Fighters SN

Starting on the 3rd, Nippon Ham will play three consecutive games against the Hanshin Tigers, who are ranked first in the Central League, at Sconfield. It is said that it is a preview Japanese series between the top teams in the two leagues.

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.