Photo by Sponichi
Hanshin moved up to second place with five consecutive victories. Starting pitcher Otake got off to a shaky start, giving up two runs in the second inning, but with manager Okada’s voice, he rallied and pitched with tenacity, giving up eight hits and two runs in seven innings. In the second innings, he showed success by tying the score with his own bat.
In the star’s post-game interview, Otake revealed that after giving up two goals, Coach Okada told him to “play harder and throw more.” “My throws were getting slower and slower, so I had to be a little more playful. I could throw easily because there was a point difference,” he said, and it seems that thanks to the advice he no longer felt so tense.
Manager Okada said, “When the runners came out, Otake lost his signature slow-and-fast pitch, and it became like a contest of strength. From the third inning on, I told him to throw slow and fast. It was then he finally showed his true potential.” Said.
“In the second inning I did something like that…I’m not that fast, so even if I try to compete with my strength, I have to use my characteristics. I told him through coach Ando that he should pitch more playfully .”” he revealed.
He later praised Otake’s persistent pitching, saying, “He just needs to get to the seventh inning.”
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