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Chiba Lotte Marines
The Lions barely held onto one game where Burch Smith was pulled early in middle relief. The use of starting pitching became stretched with Wataru Matsumoto and more.
Takumi Kuriyama did all the could hitting home runs and several RBIs, but the Lions only took one game in Chiba where the third game was a backbreaker.
With a 4-0 lead, the Lions couldn't do more damage and Yoshinobu Mizukami struggled as the game was tied in the 8th inning. Tatsushi Masuda gave up the walkoff run with one out.
Lions 5 Marines 4
Marines 5 Lions 2
Marines 6 Lions 5
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Orix Buffaloes
The Lions held their ground against Yoshinobu Yamamoto and kept the game tied 2-2 into extra innings. Tatsuya Imai earned a tough win going nine frames with 144 pitches while Tatsushi Masuda had to close it in the 10th after Kuriyama hit a sacrifice fly.
Kaito Yoza struggled in the second game, leading to a shutout.
Dietrich Enns won his third game in a row through he gave up a three-run HR in the 6th. Hotaka Yamakawa went 4-5 with a HR and three RBIs to take the series.
With this win, the Lions won their 5,000th game in franchise history dating back to the 1950 Nishitetsu Clippers. They became the 6th team to reach this milestone and the first since the current NPB existed in 1950.
Lions 3 Buffaloes 2
Buffaloes 6 Lions 0
Lions 10 Buffaloes 4
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Let's just say it could be worse. The bullpen concern is real and with Imai being forced to go old school, there's a bumpy ride ahead. Offense is sporadic, but forgiving in the series against Orix.
Who knows how this pitching holds up.
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