◆ Seibu Lions Pacific League: Seibu vs. Softbank Hawks (5th, Belluna Dome)

Softbank Hawks used infielder Hotaka Yamakawa, who was left out of the starting lineup for the first time this season in the game Seibu Lions on the 4th due to his poor performance, as the "number 6 hitter and first baseman."

During practice the day before the game, he spoke at length with Manager Kokubo and reported on his self-analysis of his current situation.In the game against the Rakuten Eagles on the 2nd (at Mizuho PayPay Dome), he hit his sixth home run of the season—a solo shot—to end his personal worst streak of 31 hitless at-bats. However, in the rematch on the 3rd, he went 4-At Bat, 0-hit, and 2-struck out. In the game against the Seibu Lions on the 4th, he came in as a pinch hitter with two outs in the ninth inning and went struck out.

Yamakawa has a good record against Seibu Lions 's starting pitcher Yutaro Watanabe last season, with 5 At Bat and 2 Home Run in 11 hit-bats for a batting average of .455. This season will be their first matchup.

In addition, Yuki Yanagita outfielder, who injured his right knee on the 1st at Hit by Pitch, was left out of the starting lineup for the fourth consecutive game.

Softbank Hawks 's starting line-up is as follows:

1 (Central) Shuto

2 (finger) Kondo

3 (2) Makihara Dai

4 (3) Kurihara

5 (Right) Yanagimachi

6 (1) Yamakawa

7 (left) Sasagawa

8 (catcher) Umino

9 (play) Shoko

(Pitcher) Ozeki