Orcas closer Dock surrendered a ninth-inning, two-run home run to Shinoda during a loss, ending a late-game undefeated streak for the club, according to serialized sports logs published on Kakuyomu.
Shinoda Delivers Ninth-Inning Blow to Snap Orcas Streak
The Orcas suffered a rare late-inning collapse when reliever Dock, filling in during a roster absence, allowed a 28th home run of the season to Shinoda on a high 159 km/h fastball in the top of the ninth. The blast turned a one-run Orcas lead into a deficit that the team failed to erase in the bottom half of the frame, handing the club its first defeat in a game led or tied in the ninth inning since the end of the year before last.
Kakuyomu records note that the franchise had maintained an undefeated record in games where they held a lead or tie entering the ninth inning, a run anchored largely by reliable late-inning relief work over the prior two seasons.
Manager Date Shifts Rotation Plans for Climax Series
Orcas manager Date confirmed that the coaching staff intends to deploy a pitcher as a starting pitcher during the upcoming Climax Series, moving away from an initial plan to slot him back into the closer role. Following a dominant recent outing featuring twenty strikeouts, team leadership decided to start the pitcher despite his limited professional experience on the mound.
“The postseason is a short series where every game matters, and starting a pitcher with minimal prior experience carries risk,” team personnel noted of the initial hesitation to alter roles. However, the sheer dominance of the recent performance forced a tactical pivot. Date outlined that the team’s First Stage matchup against the Penguins will feature Akiyama Baba as the primary starter, with Jake available for a potential third game if necessary.
Final Regular Season Tune-Up at Jingu Stadium
The Orcas coaching staff scheduled one final regular-season start for the pitcher at Jingu Stadium against the Penguins to build vital starting experience before the Climax Series Final Stage. While the team bypassed him for the opening First Stage series against the Penguins—earmarking his next postseason appearance for the start of the Final Stage against the Yumils—the interim tune-up is designed to build arm length and sharpness.
Preparations continue at the team dormitory ahead of the final regular-season fixture.
Worth a look
.jpg)