Yakult Swallows Murakami Munetaka (23) played an active part in breaking a long losing streak.

On the 2nd, in the match against the Nippon Ham Fighters held at Escon Field in Kitahiroshima, Hokkaido, Japan, Murakami started as third baseman 4 times and recorded 2 hits, 1 home run, 3 RBIs and 1 run in 4 at-bats. Yakult ended a long 12-game losing streak with a 5-0 win. 

Japanese media Sports Hochi said, “Yakult’s 4th hitter, Murakami’s bat, prevented a pitch-dark losing streak with 12 consecutive losses. In the first inning, I hit a timely hit with an RBI, and in the second inning, I hit a two-run home run,” said Murakami. 안전놀이터

Yakult, which won the Central League last season and finished runner-up in the Japan Series, has fallen into a shocking 12-game losing streak this season and is staying at the bottom of the league. Although it was difficult to stop the losing streak, the sluggish performance remains with 18 wins, 2 draws and 30 losses with a win rate of .375. There is a 14-game gap with the first place Hanshin (32 wins, 1 draw, 16 losses). 

In a situation where the team is in trouble, Murakami, the main gun, is also not the same as in previous years. Murakami, who hit 56 homers last season and broke the Japanese record for the most homers in a single season and achieved the triple crown, had a batting average of .222 (39 hits in 176 at bats), 10 home runs, 30 RBIs, and an OPS of .784 in 50 games this season. are getting results His batting average was 1.5 2 Lee (12 hits in 79 at-bats), 1 home run, 10 RBIs, and an OPS of .541 in 24 games in April. 

However, in May, he gradually began to come to life. Murakami managed to bounce back with a batting average of .27 (24 hits in 89 at-bats), 7 homers, 15 RBIs, and an OPS of .937 in 24 games in May. 

Sports Hochi pointed out Yakult’s bad luck, saying, “We lost by less than 3 points during the losing streak.” Shingo Takatsu, coach of Yakult, who ended a long losing streak with Murakami’s home run, said, “It is inevitable because the world is a fierce game. He fought desperately and rarely lost a match without a hand. It was just a game that I lost,” he regretted. He continued, “(Murakami) felt responsible and could have been stressed about not getting results. However, since he is the number 4 hitter on our team, I believe that he will carry on his shoulders and fight.”

Murakami said, “I was able to overcome it somehow. From tomorrow, I will try to win a streak,” he said, reaffirming his determination for the rest of the season.

Coach Tsuyoshi Shinzo of Nippon Ham, who lost to Yakult that day, also cheered for Yakult, saying, “Yakult will start winning streaks tomorrow.” /