Shimomura shines at both ends
Hanshin starter Kaisho Shimomura delivered 6 innings, 4 hits, 1 earned run and 7 strikeouts on July 21 against DeNA. At the plate he recorded his first professional RBI with a grounder to short in the fifth, and Hanshin won 2–1. The young lefty made an impact with both pitching and hitting.
Kato reaches 10 wins after two years
Hokkaido Nippon‑Ham beat Orix 6–0 on July 21, with starter Takayuki Kato credited with the win. Kato reached a personal-best‑matching 10 victories for the season, and the game was finished by a five‑pitcher relief relay that preserved the shutout. The result gave the team positive momentum.
Urata’s 3 hits, 2 RBIs power Giants
The Yomiuri Giants defeated Hiroshima 11–5 at the Tokyo Dome on July 21. Shunsuke Urata collected three hits and two RBIs, sparking the offense with extra‑base hits and timely scoring. A productive attack and bullpen support produced the decisive margin.
Espinoza records 9th win; Sugisawa’s go‑ahead homer
Orix defeated SoftBank 2–1 at Mizuho PayPay Dome on July 21. Starter Espinoza notched his ninth victory of the season, and Ryo Sugisawa’s go‑ahead home run provided the decisive run. Timely hitting and steady starting pitching delivered a follow‑up win for Orix.