Considered one of the favorites to win the Pacific League, the Orix Buffaloes have been through the wringer this spring.
In the months since manager Hiroshi Moriwaki's men finished within a hair of last year's PL pennant, Orix was Japan's most active club in the offseason, but the Buffaloes stumbled out of the gate to start the season. On April 15, Orix was 2-14 with one tie, 9½ games out and in last place with PL batting champ Yoshio Itoi hitting .200.
"Neither the offense or the defense was consistent," head coach Junichi Fukura told Kyodo News on Tuesday at QVC Marine Field just before the team extended their only win streak of the season to four games with a 12-inning victory over the Chiba Lotte Marines.