I made it to Kyocera Dome Osaka on April 16th for the final game of a three-game series between the Orix Buffaloes and the Saitama Seibu Lions — and it turned out to be a great night to show up. Orix won 7–1, completing the sweep and climbing to second place in the Pacific League.
The Lions actually scored first — a run in the top of the fourth on an RBI single by Ojima. But Orix answered right away. With two outs and runners on base, shortstop Kurebayashi hit a clutch two-run double to center to flip the lead, and Oshiro added another single to make it 3–1. That was really the ballgame.
Starter Teranishi was excellent — six innings, 75 pitches, just the one run. And in the eighth, Orix piled on with four more runs, capped by another Kurebayashi double and an RBI sac fly from Noguchi. Final score: 7–1, 14 hits for the Buffaloes. The crowd went from politely enthusiastic to genuinely loud as the runs kept coming.
Kyocera Dome is a brilliant venue. Fully enclosed, great sight lines, and proper stadium food (I had takoyaki). If you’re in Osaka and there’s a Buffaloes home game on the calendar, just go. You won’t regret it.
