◆Nippon Life Interleague Series 2026 Chunichi 5-8 Softbank Hawks extra inning 11 innings) (3rd, Vantelin Dome)

Softbank Hawks overcame a four-run deficit to achieve their first six-game winning streak in interleague play since 2018. This marks their longest winning streak of the season.

In the fifth inning, starting pitcher Haru Matsumoto gave up Walk to Yamamoto, the leadoff batter, and then allowed an RBI single to Muramatsu with two outs and a runner on second, giving up the first run. He then walked Ishikawa Takashi, and with two outs and runners on first and second, he gave up a three-run homer to Hosokawa that landed in the left home run wing. He gave up four runs in that inning, breaking the deadlock of the game.

However, in the sixth inning immediately after runs, leadoff Kondo hit a doble to right-center, and Kurihara followed with a timely doble that marked his fourth consecutive RBI to right field. With no outs and a runner on second, Yu Yamamoto also hit a timely single to left. They closed the gap to two runs, and with two outs and bases loaded, the opposing battery missed to cut the gap to one run. With two outs and runners on second and third, Masaki hit a two-run single to turn the game around.

Nevertheless, Tsumori, who came in to pitch in the sixth inning, hit Ukai with Hit by Pitch leadoff pitch and then walked Hanada, putting him in Walk with no outs and runners on first and second. Yamamoto's bunt resulted in a fly ball, leaving runners on first and second with struck out out, at which point manager Kokubo brought in Hernandez. closer pinch hitter Abe swinging, but the first batter, Fukunaga, hit the first pitch to center field, tying the game.

The game went into its first extra inning of the season, and the score was tied 5–5 heading into the 11th inning. With one out bases loaded, Takashi Hirose—who was making his first starting line-up of the season—Chunichi hit the first pitch from Katsuno for a two-run doble that sailed over the center-field wall.Furthermore, with one out and runners on second and third, Dai Makihara runner scored from third on Shuto’s double fielder’s choice, giving the team a three-run lead. They also extended their winning streak against the Chunichi to five games—their longest such streak since 2012–13.