◆ Pacific League Softbank Hawks 1-2 Seibu Lions (August 8, Mizuho PayPay Dome)

Softbank Hawks suffered their second consecutive loss, guaranteeing their first series loss of the season. They managed to score one run in the ninth inning with no outs and runners on first and third, but couldn't get the crucial hit.

Starting Hsu Jo-Hsi was aiming for a 2-0 win in his first two starts, but gave up a solo home run to Seibu Lions 's first-round draft pick, Taiga Kojima with two outs in the first inning. In the game Rakuten Eagles on the 1st (Rakuten Eagles Mobile), he pitched six scoreless innings, runs only three hit, but this was his first home run and his first runs since coming to Japan. It was a disappointing hit, especially since he pitched well, allowing only one runs in seven innings.

After the game, manager Kokubo praised Kojima's hit, saying, "The rookie's Home Run was on an incredibly difficult inside pitch." In his first at-bat in the 8th inning, with two strike, he swung hard at Hernandez's fastball. Although it resulted in a ground ball to second base, he made good contact, and Kokubo highly praised him, saying, "Hernandez was seeing him for the first time and he still managed that swing. We've acquired a great player."