Rookie Ryoto Kita of the Orix Buffaloes hits a home run in the team's Pacific League game against the Nippon Ham Fighters at Windhill East Hokkaido Stadium on July 13, 2021.... The outfielder, the Buffaloes' third draft pick last year, pulled an inside breaking ball from Takahide Ikeda( 3-9) over the right-field fence at Windhill East Hokkaido Stadium in Kushiro, a two-run shot capping off a five-run first inning for the visitors.... Kita singled to left and stole a base in the third and also

Masanori Ishikawa of the Yakult Swallows pitches against the Orix Buffaloes in Game 4 of the Japan Series at Tokyo Dome on Nov.... Since the Buffaloes came from behind in a three-run ninth to win Game 1 of the best-of-seven series in Osaka, the Swallows have won three straight and are now poised to win the CL's first Japan championship since 2012.... The 41-year-old Ishikawa( 1-0), who turned pro just after the Swallows won their last Japan Series in 2001 draft, allowed an unearned run on a wa