The Orix Buffaloes’ Yuma Tongu, far right, celebrates after hitting a three-run home run for the Pacific League in the third inning in Game 1 of Japanese baseball’s All-Star series against the Central League at Kyocera Dome Osaka on July 23, 2025. (Kyodo)
OSAKA (Kyodo) — The Orix Buffaloes’ Yuma Tongu and Kenya Wakatsuki homered at their home stadium as the Pacific League beat the Central League 5-1 in Game 1 of Nippon Professional Baseball’s two-game All-Star series Wednesday.
Tongu was named the game’s MVP for his three-run shot to left field that pushed the PL’s lead to 4-0 in the third inning. Wakatsuki added a solo blast in the seventh at Kyocera Dome Osaka.
Hiroya Miyagi, also a Buffaloe, started on the mound and threw two scoreless innings.
Yuki Okabayashi of the Chunichi Dragons scores a run for the Central League in the fifth inning against the Pacific League in Game 1 of Japanese baseball’s All-Star series at Kyocera Dome Osaka on July 23, 2025. (Kyodo)
The PL finished with nine hits. Yuki Okabayashi of the Chunichi Dragons had two of the CL’s five hits.
The series moves to Yokohama Stadium for Game 2 on Thursday.