DeNA defeated Chunichi 3-1 on Tuesday at Yokohama Stadium, taking the first game of their three-game series.
Starting pitcher Kikuju Higashi delivered a dominant performance, allowing just two hits over six scoreless innings while silencing the Chunichi lineup.
Amid swirling emotions, the ace remained steady. “Honestly, I was surprised, but this kind of thing can happen in baseball. As BayStars, we just fight with the players we have,” Higashi said, focusing on the game at hand.
Yamamoto, whose trade was announced earlier, addressed the team during a meeting. “Today, he is our ace, so we absolutely have to win,” he told his teammates. True to those words, Higashi kept zeros on the scoreboard and earned his fourth win of the season.
“I owe my growth to Yuta. Our battery partnership was indescribable. We helped each other get to the top level. I hope we can both build things up again from scratch in different places,” Higashi said, reflecting on his connection with catcher Yuta.
He also had words for Shion Matsuo, who was behind the plate that day. “Shion needs to stand on his own and lead the team if we’re going to win a championship. He’s the key man,” Higashi stated firmly. “Next, it’s my turn to help Shion grow. I want him to become a catcher who represents Japan.” With renewed determination, the ace continued to pitch for victory.
