The Orix Buffaloes rode a complete game shutout by ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto to the final out.

The Orix defeated the Hanshin Tigers 5-1 in Game 6 of the best-of-seven Nippon Professional Baseball 2023 Japan Series at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka, Japan, on Thursday (April 4). The win tied the series at three games apiece, sending the series to a deciding Game 7.

With the Orix and Hanshin playing side-by-side in the Japan Series, the Kansai Derby was held for the first time in 59 years since 1964.

Hanshin took the early lead. They took the first game. But ORIX fought back fiercely. They took the second and third games to take the series. However, Hanshin came back strong. They won games four and five to take the series three games to two.

It was a cliffhanger for the Oryx. One more loss and they would fail to win the title. Hanshin, on the other hand, was one win away from winning its first Japan Series title in 38 years.

The Oryx needed a win in Game 6, and Yamamoto came through with a terrifying comeback to secure the victory.

Starting lineup

Hanshin: Koji Chikamoto (center field), Takumu Nakano (second base), Shota Morishita (right field), Yusuke Oyama (first base), Sheldon Noji (left field), Teruaki Sato (third base), Genta Itohara (designated hitter), Seiya Kinami (shortstop), Seishi Sakamoto (catcher). Starting pitcher Shoki Murakami. 토토사이트

Oryx: Nakagawa Keita (center fielder) – Mune Yuma (third baseman) – Kurebayashi Kotaro (shortstop) – Mori Tomoya (right fielder) – Tongu Yuma (first baseman) – Marwin Gonzalez (second baseman) – Sugimoto Yutaro (left fielder) – Leandro Cedeño (designated hitter) – Wakatsuki Kenya (catcher). Starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

Hanshin takes the lead, but the Oryx come right back.

It was the top of the second inning. Yusuke Oyama flied out to right field. Sheldon Noiji then took Yamamoto’s 156-kilometer fastball over the right field fence. The score was 1-0.

Hanshin’s lead didn’t last long. The Orix came right back at them. In the bottom of the second inning, Gonzalez singled up the middle and Yutaro Sugimoto hit a ball that sailed just inside the ceiling of the Kyocera Dome. It was ruled a double after an umpire review. Cedeño struck out to put runners on second and third, and Wakatsuki singled to right to tie the game at 1-1. With runners on first and third, Nakagawa hit a sacrifice fly to left field to make it 2-1.