◆ Pacific League Softbank Hawks 6-4 Nippon-Ham (28th, Mizuho PayPay Stadium)

Nippon-Ham held a two-run lead by the fourth inning, but in the fifth inning, starting pitcher Tatsuya gave up five runs. For the second consecutive game, they failed to hold onto an early lead, resulting in their first consecutive opening-day losses at PayPay Dome in four years, since 2022 when they suffered three straight losses to start the season.

After the game, when Manager Shinjo appeared before the press, he immediately said, "It's important to move on in life (laughs). I've already forgotten about it."

Regarding Tatsuya's sudden erratic performance in the fifth inning, he reflected, "Shuto's hit-by-pitch was painful. It was right before Kondo's at-bat. He was doing well until the fourth inning. This is what makes pitcher interesting, or rather, difficult. (Kondo) hitting it at that point was impressive."

Nevertheless, Nomura and Castro, who were both given their first starting line-up, hit home runs. "They were hitting well up to that point. Everyone wants to get a chance to bat at least once." In the tenacious comeback that brought the score back to within two runs in the ninth inning, cleanup hitter Gunji also got his first hit of the season with a timely hit, and he spoke positively, saying, "I got a hit. That was good. Hits like that are the kind that come right before your performance really starts to improve and explode. I was really happy about that."

The starter for Game 3 was Arihara, who was originally scheduled to be entrusted with the home opener. Although it will be a sudden match against an old foe, he said, "Tomorrow, I'm going to ask Arihara, who is very familiar mound with the game, to start. I'm looking forward to it.