◆ Pacific League 3-4 Softbank Hawks (May 5th, ZOZO Marine Stadium)

Lotte suffered their second consecutive come-from-behind loss to Softbank Hawks, bringing their record to 4 wins and 5 losses in 9 games this season, putting them one game below .500 for the first time this season. This marks their second consecutive series loss, following their previous series against Nippon-Ham (at Escon Stadium).

In the ninth inning, trailing 3-4 by one run, Softbank Hawks closer attacked Yutaka Matsumoto, and with pinch hitter Takabe's hit to center field and Sato's hit to right, runners on first and third with one out. Tomosugi attempted a safety squeeze in this opportunity, but it was a grounder to catch, and Takabe, who was starting at third base runner, was thrown three feet over and base running out. Ogawa, the pinch runner at first base runner, was tagged out in front of the third baseman, and the game ended at double play.

After the game, manager Saburo revealed that the sign was for a safety squeeze, and calmly reflected, "I don't think the strategy was wrong, but we couldn't execute it properly. I guess that's all the skill we have. If (Tomosugi) had managed to bunt it, it would have been different. I hope he practices hard and succeeds if he gets the same opportunity again. (He fouled off the second pitch and we changed the sign to hit) I don't think he would have been able to hit it anyway. I think my choice was the best."