◆ Pacific League League: Rakuten Eagles (29th, ZOZO Marine Stadium)

Rakuten Eagles pitcher Kenta Maeda (38) started the game against Lotte and pitched 4 1/3 innings, giving up 7 hit 5 runs.

In the first inning, he gave up a single to Fujiwara, the leadoff hit, and then runs on sacrifice fly to left field by Terachi with one out and a runner on third. He gave up the first run of the game.

In the third inning, immediately after his teammates had taken the lead, he faced a dangerous situation with one out and a runner on third base, but closer runs. Mixing in splitter and other pitches with his fastball, which exceeded 150 km/h, he struck out Fujiwara and Teraji, keeping the score at 0-0.

However, in the fourth inning, Polanco hit a solo home run to tie the game. The ball hit the right field foul pole and tied the game. Then, with one out, Inoue hit a home run to left field, giving the opposing team the lead.

Trailing by one run, the team was pulled from the game in the fifth inning after facing a dangerous situation with no outs and runners on first and third base. The second pitcher, Shibata, allowed additional runs via a bases-loaded Walk and sacrifice fly.

The veteran, who returned to NPB this season after an 11-year absence, is aiming for his first win in his third appearance. In his previous start on the 7th against Nippon-Ham he had to leave the game in the 4th inning due to a cramp in his right calf. Looking ahead to his first appearance on mound in the first team in about three weeks, he expressed his determination, saying, "Now that I'm back, I want to contribute to the team. I want to pitch in a way that will lead to a win."

Prior to this game, he had appeared in two games this season, with a record of 0 wins and 1 loss and ERA 2.45. If he were to pitcher win, it would be his first victory in Japan in 3862 days, since his game against the Chunichi Dragons on October 2, 2015 (at Mazda Stadium).