◆Exhibition game: Rakuten Eagles vs. Nippon-Ham (12th, Shizuoka)

pitcher Naoto Nishiguchi (29), who started in the exhibition game against Nippon-Ham pitched well for five innings, allowing four hit and two runs.

In the 5th inning, he gave up a double hit to Kamikawahata in the top of the first inning, but got Yamagata to ground out double play to second, then got Yazawa to ground out change-up to second, and got off mound with 77 pitches.

Nishiguchi overcame Tommy John surgery and returned to the main roster from the minor leagues in February of last year. Last season, he appeared in 52 games as a reliever and recorded 31 hold. This season, he has expressed his intention to try out as a starting pitcher, and in the exhibition game against Lotte on the 5th (Shizuoka), he came in as the second pitcher from the 6th inning, pitching 3 innings, allowing 2 hit and no runs.