In the fifth inning with one out and a runner on first, Matsumoto Haru gave up a two-run homer to Ishii (far right).
Seibu 3-0 SoftBank (June 12) – Seibu extended its winning streak to five games, moving into second place. In the fifth inning, Ishii’s two-run blast broke the deadlock. Watanabe pitched effectively, allowing no runs over 6 1/3 innings, ending SoftBank’s five-game winning streak in the matchup. SoftBank was shut out and fell to third place.
[Inning Scores] Seibu 3-0 SoftBank
SoftBank’s Matsumoto Haru, who aims to complete the season as a starter, believes that “the next game after a failure is crucial.” This day marked a rematch against Seibu, who had tagged him for four runs in 4 2/3 innings in his previous outing. While he managed to go six innings and allow two runs, the team suffered a painful loss that dropped them to third.
In the first inning, his fastball had good velocity. He fired all three pitches—fastballs—at the leadoff hitter, Canario, striking him out swinging on a 150-kph heater. He continued to rack up strikeouts in each inning. However, in the fifth, he allowed a leadoff single to Tsuge and then left a breaking ball over the plate to Ishii, who drove it to the right-field terrace seats for a two-run homer. “I was cautious in that crucial situation, but it was a poor pitch selection on my part,” Matsumoto reflected.
Last season, stamina was a major issue; in 15 starts, he only exceeded 100 pitches once. This time, he threw 106 pitches, marking the third time in seven starts this season that he surpassed the century mark. As he faced a hot Seibu lineup, his pitch count climbed, and his fastball dipped to the mid-140s kph in the middle innings. “As the pitch count went up, I felt fatigued,” he admitted in self-criticism.
To complete the season as planned, he needs the toughness to endure fatigue. “I still have room to grow,” Matsumoto said optimistically. His next start will be another crucial test of the left-hander’s true worth. (Reported by Kamimoto Toranosuke)
SoftBank manager Kokubo said: “We had no hits after the fifth inning. It’s all ifs and buts (about not capitalizing on early chances).”