◆ Pacific League Softbank Hawks 2-0 Seibu Lions (9th, Mizuho PayPay Stadium)

Seibu Lions Lions pitcher Shinya Sugai pitched well, allowing only two hit and no runs over six innings, but received no run support from his offense and missed out on his first win since June of last year.

For the first time this season, he formed a battery with first-round draft catcher Taiga Taiga Kojima University) and pitched after a six-day rest since the game Orix Buffaloes on the 2nd (Belluna Dome). In the first inning, with two outs and runners on first and second, he got Yamakawa to fly out to center field, and in the fifth inning, with one out and runner on first and second, he got Kurihara to hit into a double play play, showing he could get runners on base but still managed to hold his ground when necessary.

However, their offense was outmaneuvered by the opposing starting pitcher, Otsu, and they suffered shutout game loss with only one hit. Nevertheless, the left-hander remained positive, saying, "Even after giving up Hit by Pitch and hit batters, I was able to get ahead in strike with strikes, and I was able to disrupt hitter' timing with breaking ball, which was good. Good communication with Kojima led to my pitching today. I think if I focus on my own pitching, it will lead to success next time, so I want to be pragmatic and do my best."