◆ Pacific League League: Lotte vs. Orix Buffaloes (17th, ZOZO Marine Stadium)

Orix Buffaloes suffered a come-from-behind loss to Lotte, marking their second three-game sweep against the same opponent this season and their first four-game losing streak. They have struggled in their last seven games, with a record of 1 win and 6 losses. Second-place Seibu Lions, who were 0.5 games behind, defeated Nippon-Ham in their game that day, causing Orix to relinquish the top spot they had held since April 19th.

Starting pitcher Soya gave up 6 hit 3 runs in 6 innings, suffering his third loss of the season. He pitched a tenacious 88 pitches and fulfilled his role as a starter, but the go-ahead 3-run homer he gave up to Soto with two outs in the 6th inning, when his team was leading by one run, was costly. Manager Kishida frowned, saying, "It was just that one home run in the inning... We were doing pretty well up until then."

In the third inning, cleanup hitter Ota hit his third home run of the season, his first since the game against Softbank Hawks on April 17th (at Mizuho PayPay Dome), giving his team the lead. In the eighth inning, trailing by two runs, So hit a timely single to left field with two outs and runners on first and third, narrowing the gap to one run. The offense as a whole recorded 11 hit. The manager looked ahead, saying, "Overall, we were close. I think we're improving as we persevere and hold on when it matters most. We'll go back to Osaka and work to make this a good momentum shift. We just have to keep at it and take it one game at a time."