◆Nippon Life Interleague Series 2026: Lotte 0-1 Hanshin Tigers (29th, ZOZO Marine Stadium)

Lotte suffered their seventh shutout loss of the season in the first game of their series against Hanshin Tigers. Their winning streak from the start of the interleague series came to an end at three games.

Tanaka, who started the game, threw 115 pitches over 6 innings, allowing 3 hit, 2 Walk, strike out 3, and runs 1 run, resulting in his fourth loss of the season. He was unable to secure his second win of the season, which would have been his first since the game against Seibu on March 28 (at ZOZO Seibu Lions Stadium).

He managed to escape a jam with runners on first and third with two outs in the first inning without giving up any runs, but in the second inning, with the bases bases loaded and one out, he gave up a run on a ground ball to second base by Nakano. From the third inning onward, his control improved, and he retired the side in each inning three times until the sixth, closer the runs at 0-0. The early control issues were regrettable.

The batting lineup was unable to break through against Hanshin Tigers starting left-handed pitcher, Takahashi. In the second inning, with two outs, Ikeda hit doble to left field, but Inoue flied out to right field. In the fifth inning, Sato led off with a single to center hit, but the subsequent batters were shut down and no runs were scored.