◆ Pacific League Seibu Lions 4-1 Orix Buffaloes (23rd, Belluna Dome)

Seibu Lions won a close game, securing the second win in the battle for first place and ending their six-game losing streak against Orix Buffaloes.

In the second inning with two outs and runners on first and second scoreless, Canario hit an RBI single to left field to take the lead for the first time in six games. In the fourth inning, with two outs and a runner on first, an opponent's error and a good base running by runner Canario at first put two outs and a runner on third, and Takizawa added another run with a timely single to center.

In the fifth inning, with no outs and runners on first and third, Hasegawa hit an RBI single to left field, and with no outs and runners on second and third, Genda hit sacrifice fly to left field, adding two more runs.

Starting left-hander Sou Sato pitched a tenacious 4 1/3 innings, allowing 6 hit 1 runs, but was pulled from the game before completing the 5th inning, missing out on his second win. Pitching after a six-day rest, pitcher started strong in the first inning, retiring the side in order. In the 4th inning, with his team scoring a run, he was briefly taken out of the game when Nishikawa hit a straight bounce. He continued pitching, but then picked off second runner Naito with one out, letting out a roar of excitement.

He was taken out of the game in the fifth inning with one out and runners on second and third base. His replacement, Ueda, gave up one run, but with some good defense from his teammates, he was able to shut down the subsequent batters and earned his long-awaited first professional win in his third year.