Who made 33 hold nine saves last year, is the team's most winning starter this year.
Seibu Lions right-hander Daira Kaima (24) won his 11th start of the season. He pitched against the Chiba Lotte Marines at Tokorozawa Seibu Dome in Saitama Prefecture on the 23rd and pitched seven innings of four hits and one run. He faced 28 batters with 97 pitches and recorded three four outs and three strikeouts. With his good pitching, Seibu won 2-1 and won four consecutive games.
One hit and no run until the third inning. He got nine out counts with 43 pitches.
In the top of the fourth inning with a 1-0 lead, the leadoff hitter hit a tiebreaking home run. A high-course cut fastball thrown to Katsuya Kakenaka No. 3 led to a home run. 1-1.
He then sent a runner to the scoring position with a hit and a walk in the top of the fifth inning, but blocked it without losing a point. With two outs and runners on first and second bases, he caught Tomosugi Atsuki with a grounder to the pitcher. He sent out one batter with a hit and a walk in the sixth and seventh innings, respectively, but passed without additional runs.
The pace of the second half is good.
On August 18, he lost against the Softbank Hawks after allowing seven runs in four innings. After the game, he won four games (one loss) in five games as a starter. He won three games from August 25 against the Nippon-Ham Fighters to September 8 against the Nippon-Ham Fighters. He allowed no runs in three games and 22 innings.
Daira, who joined in 2018 and debuted in 2019, is the 2020 Pacific League Rookie of the Year. He pitched in 54 games that year, recording one win, one hold, and one save with a 1.87 ERA.
Until last year, he played in 203 games only as relief. Last season, he ranked first in this category with 33 holds.
A bullpen pitcher who made a career-high 94 hold 31 saves has been converted to a starter this season. When he renewed his contract after the end of last season, he made it through on the condition that he switch to the starting lineup. He was likely to be selected for the WBC (World Baseball Classic) national team, but he refused because of the change in his position.
The first year of the selection switch, it's successful.
He started 21 games and pitched 144 innings, recording 11 wins, 7 losses, 147 strikeouts and a 2.25 ERA. He is the sole second-place winner after Yoshinobu Yamamoto (14 wins), the "monster pitcher" of the Orix Buffaloes. He ranks third in strikeouts and ERA. He is the team's most winning pitcher, beating Kona Takahashi (10 wins).