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The Saitama Seibu Lions went 2-2 combined against the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks and Rakuten Eagles. They remain in A-class ahead of the Orix Buffaloes and are one game above .500.
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Roster moves
Before the games even started, the Lions made multiple transactions for the week.
-Brian O'Grady left the team for the States to witness the birth of his daughter. The Lions called up Seiji Kawagoe.
-Venezuelan OF Romer Cuadrado was signed to an ikusei contract. He is the first foreigner in franchise history to be on a developmental deal. Cuadrado made it as high as AA with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization before he was let go after 2021. Most recently, he played in his home Venezuelan league for the winter.
-The Lions promoted ikusei Natsuo Takizawa and even called him up to the ichi-gun immediately as Sosuke Genda was injured. Takizawa is the first developmental player to earn a promotion from the Lions 2021 Ikusei draft class.
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Fukuoka Softbank Hawks
The first game was scheduled for Miyazaki, however it rained out, only leaving some entertainment in the mud from Kakeru Yamanobe and Haruka Yamada.
As the series went to Fukuoka, the Lions made history for all the wrong reasons.
Nao Higashihama threw a no-hitter in under 100 pitches allowing only walks to Takeya Nakamura and Hotaka Yamakawa. It was the first time the Lions were no-hit since Narciso Elvira in 2000.
Chihiro Sumida didn't pitch poorly, but he allowed two runs in the third with timely hits from Kenta Imamiya and Yuki Yanagita for the only scoring of the game.
Hawks 2 Lions 0
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Rakuten Eagles
Kona Takahashi had another quality start which meant his fourth consecutive win. It took a comeback by the Lions as two key runs came in the 6th inning, including a HR from Nakamura.
The Lions took the second game with a miraculous four-run 7th inning rally sparked by a two-run triple from Takizawa. He later advanced home on a wild pitch, which was a lead the bullpen wouldn't relinquish. Takizawa was a hero interview for the first two games
This magic ran out in game three as the team squandered multiple chances and couldn't sweep the Eagles.
Game 1: Lions 3 Eagles 2
Game 2: Lions 5 Eagles 4
Game 3: Eagles 3 Lions 1
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It wasn't he greatest week, but at least the team recovered from being no-hit in Fukuoka. No idea how long Takizawa will be with the ichi-gun, but he already did more in 2022 than most would expect.
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