◆Exhibition game: Softbank Hawks 5-7 Hiroshima (March 21, Mizuho PayPay Dome)

Softbank Hawks lost a close game. Starting mound Haru Matsumoto threw a powerful fastball, mixed in slider and change-up, and closer the opponent runs for three innings. The left-hander, who is a sure bet for the opening day rotation, showed stable pitch, and in the second inning with two outs and a runner on second, Umino hit a timely single to left field. In the third inning, with no outs and runners on first and third, Kondo sacrifice fly to center field, and with two outs and runners on first and second, Imamiya hit a timely single to left field, giving SoftBank a three-run lead.

However, in the fourth inning, with one out and runners on first and second, reliever Ito gave up a three-run homer to left field, tying the game. In the sixth inning, with two outs and runners on first and second, second-round draft pick Inagawa also gave up a three-run homer. In the seventh inning, Osuna gave up a solo homer with one out, bringing the total to seven runs allowed. In the eighth inning, with two outs and a runner on first, Nomura hit a two-run homer, but it wasn't enough.

Kondo made his first appearance since the WBC as the "number 3 hitter and right fielder." In his first at-bat in the first inning with two outs, he hit doble that hit the right field wall, and in the third inning with no outs and runners on first and third, he hit sacrifice fly to center field. He flied out to right field as the leadoff batter in the fifth inning, but finished with 1 RBI in 2 At Bat and 1 hit.