Before the final stage of the climax series of professional baseball begins on the 10th, Yakult, who won the Central League, and the giant players who won the first stage of the climax series with two consecutive victories made adjustments.
Yakult, who won the Central League for the first time in six years, will face the giant who broke through the first stage from 3rd place in the final stage starting on the 10th.
In the final stage, the league champion Yakult has the advantage of one win, and the team that wins four first will advance to the Japan Series.
Since it was raining on the 9th, Yakult players adjusted for about 2 hours at the indoor practice field adjacent to the Jingu Stadium, which is the home base, from 2:00 pm.
The state of practice was not disclosed due to the countermeasures against the new coronavirus.
Director Shingo Takatsu said in an interview with the press after the practice, "Because it is a short-term decisive battle, the momentum and flow will affect the course of the game. I want to advance the battle to gain an advantage from the beginning."
After that, he said, "I trust and send out the players, so I don't have any worries. I just hit with all my strength."
Yakult is scheduled to start in the second year with pitcher Yasunobu Okugawa, who won the team's top nine wins this season in the first leg.
Regarding the appointment of pitcher Okugawa, Takatsu said, "There are many reasons, but considering the current situation and his future, I decided to start in the first game for a long time. I value my pitching. I want you to do it. "
Giants also adjust at Jingu Stadium
The third-placed giant in the Central League was the immovable No. 4 in the first stage of the climax series, and while Kazuma Okamoto was absent due to poor upper body condition, he defeated second-placed Hanshin two times in a row to advance to the final stage, 10 We will fight Yakult, who won the league from the day, at Jingu Stadium.
Before the first round, the players practiced at Jingu Stadium for about two hours from around 4:30 pm.
Of these, Yoshihiro Maru, who took the place of Okamoto in batting practice and sat in 4th place on the first stage and hit the final in a timely manner in the second round on the 7th, hit a powerful ball in a wide angle.
On the other hand, Okamoto adjusted with another menu on the 9th, running in the outfield and doing tee batting, but did not practice batting.
In addition, pitcher Shun Yamaguchi, who is scheduled to start on the 10th, confirmed the linked play with the infield, such as the first base cover, and made adjustments by practicing pitching with a bullpen.
Pitcher Yamaguchi was enthusiastic, saying, "If you attack without running away, you will get good results. I want to win the first game and pitch with the least number of goals so that I can connect to the next in a good way."
In the final stage, Yakult, who won the league, has the advantage of one win, and the team that won four first will advance to the Japan Series.