The Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles host the Orix Buffaloes in a Pacific League sixth-round matchup at Hirosaki on Tuesday, May 12, with first pitch scheduled for 18:00.
Rakuten sends right-hander Kosei Shoji to the mound. Shoji boasts a 2.93 ERA and a 4–2 record over six starts this season, and he owns a perfect 0.00 ERA with a 1–0 record in one previous outing against the Buffaloes. In his last start on May 5 against Nippon-Ham, he threw seven innings, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out four to earn the win.
Orix counters with right-hander Aren Kuri. Kuri holds a 3.49 ERA and a 2–3 record in six starts this season, but has a 3.55 ERA in two appearances versus the Eagles (1–1). His most recent start on May 3 against Nippon-Ham saw him take the loss after allowing three runs over six innings.
The Eagles look to replicate their success from last season’s Tohoku series, when they pounded out 10 runs on 10 hits at the same Haruka Yume Stadium in Aomori Prefecture, powered by a two-hit, three-RBI performance from Yuki Murabayashi and three runs scored from Tsubasa Tatsumi. Another explosive offensive display could delight the Hirosaki crowd.
For the Buffaloes, attention turns to Tomo Mori. Mori delivered a go-ahead hit on May 4 against Lotte and crushed two homers on May 8 versus Nippon-Ham, leading the team with eight RBIs in May. His bat will be key to Orix’s chances of scoring early and often.
Both teams enter with contrasting season records: Rakuten sits at 15–20–1, while Orix leads the Pacific League at 22–14–0. In their season series, the Eagles hold a 3–2 edge through five meetings, including a four-run win and an 11–4 rout in mid-April.