New Star Ibaraki, a Hot Pitch Cutting Through the Rain! A First Pro Win That Lights Up the Tigers' Tomorrow!
Hanshin vs. Yakult Game 3 April 9 (Thu) 18:00 Koshien
[The 'Victory in the Rain' Seized by a Young Warrior! Shutting Down the Swallows to Stop the Losing Streak!]
This is our Tigers! They even turned the heavy, pouring rain into a celebratory toast for victory! April 9, Koshien. The third game against Yakult, played in the pouring rain, became a memorable night that announced the birth of a 'new star' everyone had been waiting for.
Standing on the mound was the young 4th-year pro right-hander, Hidetoshi Ibaraki.
The mound where he sought his first professional win presented poor visibility due to the rain, on top of facing the Swallows' powerful lineup. However, Ibaraki did not flinch. Despite repeatedly allowing runners on base, he kept putting '0's on the scoreboard through 6 innings against the persistent Yakult lineup. 96 pitches, 5 hits, 5 strikeouts, and 6 scoreless innings. The fans were overjoyed.
[Morishita's 4th Solo Homer Followed by Oyama's First RBI Hit]
In the bottom of the 4th, with a 2-2 count, he caught Okugawa's 6th pitch slider and smashed it into the left-field stands for his 4th solo home run.
Sato followed with a double, and the batter was the 5th hitter, Oyama.
On the 6th pitch of a full count, he hit his first RBI single of the season to left field. It was a welcome hit, especially since he had only recorded RBIs via sacrifice flies until now.
[A Battle Showing Fighting Spirit Amidst the Pouring Rain]
The game was called a rain-shortened game after the top of the 7th inning as the rain intensified, but the Tigers on the field never lost their fighting spirit until the very end. With a 'shutout relay' from Ibaraki to Kirishiki, they blanked the Swallows! They stopped their losing streak and grabbed a huge win to ride the updraft once again.
[Scoreboard]
Hanshin 2 wins, 1 loss
1234567 Total Hits Errors
Ya 0000000 0 61
Hanshin 000200X 2 80
(Top of 7th ended, rain-shortened game)
[Win] Hidetoshi Ibaraki (1 win, 0 losses)
[Loss] Yasunobu Okugawa (0 wins, 1 loss)
[Save] Takuma Kirishiki (0 wins, 1 loss, 1 save)
[Hanshin's Pitching Relay] Ibaraki - Kirishiki
[Home Runs]
(Hanshin) Shota Morishita 4th
[Today's Hero]
Hidetoshi Ibaraki A brilliant pitching performance that truly embodied 'after the rain comes fair weather.' His first win, captured in his 4th year as a pro, shone especially bright under the stadium lights of the holy ground. His 6 scoreless innings are a great hope that will support the Tigers' starting rotation from here on out!
Shota Morishita
His opening 4th home run. That powerful blast drew the momentum of the game.
[Kiichi's Game Record]
Ibaraki, congratulations on your first win!
Honestly, I was nervous that the game would be canceled due to rain or end in an unlucky turn of events, but seeing Ibaraki's fastball blew those worries away. The sight of Koshien shaking the moment Morishita's home run was hit was the best. Although it ended as a rain-shortened game, the rise of a young player and the cleanup hitters scoring runs—it was a convincing victory where everything clicked perfectly.
For the Nagoya road trip starting tomorrow, let's use this momentum to win the series against our nemesis, Chunichi, this year.
First, one win down!