◆ Pacific League Orix Buffaloes 5-4 Rakuten Eagles (29th, Kyocera Dome Osaka)

Rakuten Eagles lost a close game, resulting in their third consecutive opening series loss. Draft pick number one, pitcher Sota Fujiwara from Hanazono University, suffered his first professional loss, giving up 8 hit 4 runs in 3 innings. Manager Hajime Miki commented on the rookie's pitch saying, "First of all, it was good that he was able to get on mound. I think he gained experience and learned a lot, so I hope he will use that to his advantage in the future. However, I could see that Orix Buffaloes had studied him quite a bit, so it will depend on what he does from here on out."

In the first inning, Nakajima's timely hit and McCusker's sacrifice fly fortunately took the lead with two runs, but Fujiwara also made an error by his teammates behind it and scored 3 runs. I also made 1 runs in the second inning. The right-hander, who left the mound in the third inning, looked forward and said, "I'm just frustrated, I think there are some shortcomings in being hit, so I want to review that and prepare before the next appearance."

The batting line was 3 hit, with Sato, who became the first starting line-up after the transfer, hit a solo shot in the middle in the 5th inning, which became the first after the transfer. He achieved cycle hit with doble, but fell to a swing struck out in the final at-bat of the 7th inning. Coach Miki narrowed his eyes, saying, "It was a good hit like them from the first inning."

From the 7th inning, Sho Suzuki pitched, and in the 8th inning, Fujihira, who had just returned from the WBC, took the mound in relief, showing their tenacity by closer the opponent runs. "We all fight with that in mind in every game, but we were just one step away from victory," said the manager. They will start anew from the home opener on the 31st.