◆Exhibition game: Nippon-Ham vs. DeNA (18th, Escon Stadium)

Nippon-Ham Fighters catcher Yuya Gunji (28) hit a go-ahead two-run homer to the right field bullpen off Cox in the fourth inning with one out and a runner on first base, making the score 1-1. "It was a great hit to the opposite field (self-praise)," Gunji commented in his characteristic style. The ball traveled 107 meters and went out at 157 kilometers per hour.

When he returned to the dugout, he showed off the "tea-making pose" devised by his teammate Kitayama, who played in the WBC as part of Samurai Japan. Kitayama, who joined the team that day, revealed that he had an exchange with Gunji in the locker room first thing in the morning about the tea-making pose, saying, "I said to Gunji in the locker room first thing in the morning, 'It didn't seem to catch on very well, did it?' And I said, 'No, no, it was really popular' (laughs)." He added, "It seems that The Fighters' 'Domire' pose (related to the team slogan) hasn't really caught on either, so I said, 'If Domire isn't popular, then how about the tea-making pose?' and Gunji said, 'That's a good idea.' So, Gunji might actually make tea today. Look forward to it." Kitayama's prediction came true.