◆ Practice match: Rakuten Eagles 9-9 Nippon-Ham (15th, Kin Town)

Nippon-Ham manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo (54) commented on the "unified base," which was introduced this season and will increase the size of each side of the base by approximately 7.6 centimeters. In his fifth year in charge, he pledged to update Shinjo's baseball, incorporating footwork and small moves. On this day, Ichibata and Yazawa stole second base, and the team scored nine runs on 11 hit. "Right now, I want to try something new. How big a lead can we take, how quick can we hit, and how long before this catcher can get us out? With the base now bigger, we're almost always safe. Even a small one-bounce hit can be enough to get us safe. It makes a 14-centimeter difference." He is experimentally taking a larger lead and aggressively aiming for the next base, as part of a reform base running.

On this day, he set up an end run in the 3rd inning with 1 out and 3rd base, and scored 1 run with a ground ball by Igarata. "In our case, we are especially wary of squeeze, and if it is a sensible pitcher, it is an end run to prevent (the third baseman runner) from throwing the ball and missing it when he runs," and "New Seko Seko baseball" to reduce the risk of being missed from the strike zone with bunt stance and runner movement. He also showed a response. "It's difficult, but it's because we're becoming a team that succeeds in difficult things. That's The Fighters. I can't imitate that. What is unprecedented is just a matter of making it," he said, mastering the 2026 version of Shinjo baseball.