◆ Pacific League Softbank Hawks 6-0 Rakuten Eagles (16th, Kitakyushu Municipal Stadium)

Softbank Hawks avoided the risk of losing their top spot for the first time this season, thanks to a strong performance from starting pitcher Ryosuke Otsu, who pitched seven runs innings.

The game was a battle for first place against Rakuten Eagles, who were in second place with a 0.5 game lead before the match. Otsu got off to an excellent start, striking out two struck out in the first inning. Mixing in one-seam fastballs and change-up effectively, he recorded his first double-digit strike out of 11 in seven innings. He didn't allow Rakuten to reach second base and completely dominated Rakuten Eagles lineup.

He has pitched seven innings in all three of his appearances this season, securing his second win without a loss and demonstrating exceptional consistency. Manager Kokubo expressed his gratitude, saying, "With Ogata and Ito unavailable today (as they had both pitched in two consecutive games) during this six-game series, he was a great help." He also pitched a complete no walk issuing a single walk, even in a stadium with 92-meter foul lines where home runs are common, earning high praise from the manager, who said, "He kept his word. He kept the ball low and focused. no walk is fantastic."