On March 23, 2025, the Yakult Swallows faced off against the Nippon Ham Fighters at Escon Field in Hokkaido, in what turned out to be a thrilling battle that ended in a 7-4 defeat for the Swallows. This game concluded Yakult's open series, leaving them with a final record of 8 wins, 5 losses, and 2 draws.
The game marked the debut of new foreign player Lembert, who showed promising talent by giving up only 2 runs, none of which were earned, while striking out 4 batters in 4 innings of work. Despite a shaky start that saw him surrender 2 runs in the second inning due to an error, he quickly rebounded to retire 6 consecutive batters in the third and fourth innings, highlighting his potential for the starting rotation.
Despite trailing 3-0 early in the game, the Swallows staged a comeback with explosive hitting during the sixth inning. Akahane Yuto, stepping up to the plate, launched a solo home run, followed immediately by Nagaoka Hitoshiki’s impressive blast, also going yard for his first career home run of the open series. This moment ignited the Swallows’ offense, tying the game at 3-3 against Nippon Ham's pitcher, Ito, who was having difficulty maintaining command after a powerful start.
In the eighth inning, the Swallows took a brief lead when Osuna connected with a critical two-run double that put Yakult ahead 4-3. However, the lead was short-lived as Nippon Ham answered back in the bottom of the same inning, showcasing their depth of talent.
The reeling Swallows were missing key players like Yamada, Murakami, and Salmi due to injuries, making the performances of Akahane and Nagaoka even more crucial to boost morale and fill the gaps left by their absences.
Akahane, who filled in for Salmi due to his recent injuries, expressed confidence after his strong outing, stating, “We need to keep fighting. Every game matters as we head into the regular season.” His desire to lead by example resonated throughout the team.
Nippon Ham's pitcher Ito had a strong performance despite the setbacks he faced, concluding the game with a total of 9 strikeouts, albeit being outdone by Yakult’s offensive burst in the latter half. The pitching staff, which included other strong arms from the Swallows, such as Shōji and Shimizu, showed promise as both pitched scoreless innings despite the overall loss.
As the open series comes to a close, both teams will be looking to refine their strategies as they prepare for the regular season. While Yakult’s players have faced adversity in the form of injuries, the fire from young talent like Akahane and Nagaoka will be essential as they delve deeper into their campaign.
The Yakult Swallows are keen to learn from their experiences this open series, hoping for a quick recovery of their sidelined players, as they anticipate the regular season with cautious optimism.
