Japanese version of Lotte or LG
The Japanese professional baseball Hanshin Tigers have a similar image to the Lotte Giants or LG Twins of the KBO League. It is a popular club with a thick fan base, but the memory of winning is far away. Hanshin’s only winning experience was winning the Japan Series in 1985. Although they have won the league championship nine times, there is only one Japan Series championship trophy. He advanced to the Japan Series in 2003, 2005, and 2014, but lost and has been thirsty for the championship for 37 years.
It is similar to the situation in which Lotte of the KBO League has not been able to see the championship trophy for 30 years since 1992 and LG for 28 years since 1994. Hanshin is running at the top of the Central League this season and is raising hopes for victory. He has been gaining momentum with his recent 10-game winning streak. Hanshin won 5-3 against the Yakult Swallows held at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka, Japan on the 13th. With this, they are on a 10-game winning streak and are running for first place in the league. It is a 10-game winning streak in 16 years. They beat second place Hiroshima Toyo Carp by 8 games.
In the 3rd inning, where Hanshin was trailing 0-1 with one out and bases loaded, Dan Onodera turned the game around with 2 RBIs and a right-handed hit, and Ryutaro Umeno made it 3-1 with a sacrifice fly to right field. In the 4th inning, 토토 he added 1 run with 3 hits in a row and ran away to 4-1. In the 5th inning, Yakult Tetsuto Yamada hit a two-run home run from second base, and Hanshin was pursued by one point, 4-3. Hanshin, who maintained a close lead, escaped 5-3 with a timely hit by Seishiro Sakamoto in the 7th inning with one out and 1st and 3rd base.
After that, the bullpen kept the victory without conceding. Starting pitcher Masashi Ito recorded his 7th win of the season with 3 runs in 5 innings. Hanshin will play an away game against Hiroshima on the 15th. The Japanese media said, “If Hanshin wins the match against second place Hiroshima on the 15th, the winning magic number ’29’ will light up for the first time.”
On the other hand, Hanshin enjoyed the joy of winning 10 games in a row that day, but a major bad news occurred when the main catcher left due to an injury. Umeno collapsed after being hit in the left wrist by a pitch in the 5th inning that day, and was later replaced. After the game, the Hanshin team announced, “Umeno was examined at a hospital in Osaka City and was diagnosed with a fracture of the left ulnar bone.”
Umeno said, “It’s very embarrassing to leave because of an injury when the team is fighting for the title. I want to believe in the team and do what I can,” he said. However, director Hanshin Okada expressed regret, saying, “It is impossible to return this year.”