One More Step, Stronger and More Reliable [9/21 vs. BayStars Win]

Teruaki Sato's batted ball stretches toward right field. Sato watches the trajectory of the ball from the batter's box—

He raised his bat high.

In the top of the 10th inning, Sato's solo home run flew out, and the Tigers took the lead once again. But the problem was what came next. Although it was a save situation, both J. Guerra and Suguru Iwazaki had already finished their pitching duties. The lead was only one run. They would be pitching while carrying the weight of the relief corps' efforts from the middle innings onward, Sato's go-ahead home run, and the hope for a comeback championship. Even if Iwazaki or Guerra had been pitching, it would have been a difficult mound to face.

In such a situation, the one called upon was Hideki Okadome, wearing number 64.
He has pitched in over 30 games so far, but he has never been used as a so-called set-up man. Much less has he ever recorded a save in his professional career.

It's tough enough just being a one-run save situation, but the BayStars' lineup starts with the 3rd hitter, Keita Sano. The 4th hitter is Tyler Austin, who hit a 3-run homer in the previous game, and the 5th is Toshiro Miyazaki, who also hit a 3-run homer that day. Just writing this makes me dizzy.

The bottom of the 10th inning was about to begin, which would be more difficult and meaningful than any game he had pitched in this season.

The leadoff hitter, Sano, steps into the batter's box. The cheers from the BayStars fans at Yokohama Stadium sounded even louder than before. From the opponent's perspective, it's natural to think, 'Maybe he'll do something for us,' since it's a pitcher who isn't Iwazaki or Guerra on the mound.

Sano hit the third pitch, but it was a fly out to left. It traveled further than I expected, which made my heart skip a beat, but the ball, which was well-controlled low, lost steam just before the fence.

Okadome continues to attack Austin thoroughly with low pitches. In this situation, he absolutely must avoid giving up a home run. It's not the roaring, powerful ball I saw early in the season, but it's a good pitch.
I felt that Okadome's gaze, visible from under the brim of his cap, was even sharper than when he faced Sano. Was it nerves, or perhaps a sign of his resolve?

He struck out Austin swinging with a slider on the outside corner. This time, the fans on the third-base side erupted. Because they know how difficult it is to retire this slugger, the cheers and applause rang out loudly.

Even though he got two outs, Miyazaki is still here. Oh, what a formidable lineup this is.
But, with the way Okadome is pitching today.

Miyazaki's batted ball rolled in front of third base. The ball was sent from Sato to Oyama's mitt. The final out was secured. A sense of fulfillment radiated from Okadome as he exchanged high-fives with the fielders with a smile.

Okadome's performance at Hamasta this season has been his worst. There were times he gave up painful home runs that decided the game. Even though they were leading, there is no doubt that the situation was heavily stacked against him.
Seeing Okadome overcome that pressure made him look so reliable that, without any exaggeration, I almost shed tears.

It was a game where many things happened. At one point, they were behind after a home run, but they were able to fight back again. In the 8th inning, Yusuke Oyama, who had taken third base on a hit by Sato, was clapping his hands repeatedly on third base.
I have never seen Oyama express his emotions like that before. I think that reaction represented everything he felt about today's game.

The words Sato said in his hero interview, 'No one has given up,' must have come from his true heart. After all, there is no reason to give up.

This team can still become even stronger.