◆ Pacific League Softbank Hawks 2-0 Seibu Lions (May 5th, Mizuho PayPay Dome)

With a solid relay performance, they secured their first shutout game win of the season. Softbank Hawks 's starting pitcher, Otsu, runs seven scoreless innings. hit allowed closer one hit, a single to left field by Kuwahara, the leadoff batter in the first inning, and Matsumoto Yu in the eighth inning and Sugiyama in the ninth, following their winning pattern, to secure their first win in three games. The right-hander, who earned his first win of the season with "just one hit," said excitedly, "We were on a losing streak, so I pitched with the determination to stop it no matter what."

The golden words became a strength. It was a difficult start, giving 2 Hit by Pitch up to the third inning, but the words of Shuto, who was absent due to poor health, resonated in my heart. "I asked Yukyo-san to say something like, 'Isn't the tempo a little slow?'" From the 4th inning, 4 inning 3 in a row. "I think the opinions of those around you are very important," he nodded.

This was the first game this season in which bullpen didn't allow a single run, and they avoided a three-game sweep against the same opponent. Manager Kokubo praised shutout game victory, saying, "That's a good thing," and also highly praised Otsu, saying, "He fulfilled his role as a starting pitcher well." They maintain their lead and will face Nippon-Ham in a top-of-the-table clash on the road starting on the 11th. (Tosei Moriguchi)