Softbank Hawks The team avoided a third straight loss, fielder losing a total of 12 struck out to all nine players. 0-1 in the seventh inning with two outs bases loaded. Yanagimachi turned the game on its head with a three-run doble single, but he missed struck out a chance with two outs in the fifth inning. He showed his determination, saying, "I was determined to make the most of this chance.

Lotte starter Tanaka allowed a good pitch with 8 strike out until the 6th inning and no runs. In the 8th inning with a two-run lead, Unno, who had been 2 struck out until then, decided the game by bombarding No. 1 and 2 runs to 3rd runner Sora Miyazaki. All struck out was the second humiliation since 92 years for the club (then Daiei), but they won the game just like 34 years ago.

Five of their six wins this season have been come-from-behind win, highlighting the tenacity of their batting lineup. Manager Kokubo praised Yanagimachi's heroic hit, saying, "Today it was Yanagimachi's hit." They have already achieved a four-game winning streak, dominating Pacific League. (Tosei Moriguchi)

◆Record Notes: All nine of Softbank Hawks 's fielder who took the field struck out. This is the 25th time a team has had all of its struck out out, the first being against Nippon-Ham on June 14th of last year by Hiroshima. In the Pacific League, it is the 22nd time a team has had this happen, the first being against Seibu Lions on May 31st of the same year by Orix Buffaloes. This is only the second time for Softbank Hawks, the first being against Lotte on April 8th, 1992, when they were still Daiei. Of the 25 instances, teams have won when all their struck out win out. Softbank Hawks has won both times, and their record of two win with all struck out is tied with Nippon-Ham, who had two win in 1958 and 1922.