◆ Pacific League vs. Softbank Hawks (3rd, ZOZO Marine Stadium)

Softbank Hawks... Ryoya Kurihara infielder led off the seventh inning with a two-run shot.

The game remained 0-0 with a pitching duel between Uwasawa and Lotte's Mori. In the 7th inning, Yamakawa led off with a single to left field. The next hitter, Kurihara, connected with fork on a 1-ball count and sent it to the right field foul pole. "It was fork. Uwasawa was pitching really well, so I wanted to do something to give him the lead and support him. I went to the plate with the intention of just making contact, but I'm glad that it ended up home run and that I was able to have a good at-bat. I definitely want to turn this into a win for the first game of the series," he said excitedly.

He hit his second home run of the season, a two-run shot off the left-handed pitcher who earned the team's first opening day win by a rookie in 76 years in the game against Seibu on March 27th (at ZOZO Seibu Lions Stadium). He provided run support for Uwasawa, who continued to pitch well.