◆ Pacific League 3-1 Seibu Lions (27th, ZOZO Marine Stadium)

Lotte manager Saburo (49) made his first win appearance in the post. The second-round draft pick Kaito Mori pitcher (22) of Meiji University, who was selected to open the season pitcher, threw 70 pitches in five innings for a 4 hit, no runs, and 2 strike out score. He became the second rookie in 76 years, since Yoshimi Enohara in 1950, to win the season opener for a baseball team.

After the match, manager Saburo, speaking to reporters, smiled and said, "I'm happier that Mori won than that I won. I was the most nervous. I kept wondering if he would be okay, but Mori really does have a strong heart."

The winning ball from their memorable first win was given to Mori, with the manager saying, "I'm giving it to him as a gift so that he can become our ace from here on out." Manager Saburo vowed, "Above all, I want to play baseball that the fans will find entertaining," and will entrust the starting mound for the second game of the season on the 28th to aim for another win.