◆Nippon Life Interleague Series 2026 Yakult 1-1 Seibu Lions (26th, Jingu Stadium)

Seibu Lions defeated Yakult thanks to a two-RBI performance from Seiya Watanabe, who hit the game-winning RBI.

In the 11th inning, with extra inning tied 1-1, the team attacked Yakult 's closer, Kihada, and got a runner on second base with one out. Watanabe stepped up to the plate and hit a timely doble down the right field line, driving in the winning run. In the 7th inning, he had also hit a timely single to center field with two outs and runners on first and third base, giving him a 2-hit, 2 RBI performance.

Starting pitcher Kaima Taira delivered a powerful performance that kept hit up to one out in the seventh inning. In the eighth inning, he put a runner on third with one out, but Takeoka hit a shallow left-handed fly that broke his bat, and Nagaoka swung and missed struck out, giving him a clenched fist.

With the score 1-0 in the 9th inning, reliever Kaihino took the mound. He recorded two outs, and with only one out remaining to win, he gave up a game-tying solo home run to Montel. The game went into extra inning. They won the hard-fought battle, starting the interleague series with a victory and firmly maintaining their lead in the standings.