◆Nippon Life Interleague Series 2026: The Giants 2-1 Orix Buffaloes (June 4th, Tokyo Dome)

Orix Buffaloes 's Espinoza pitched a strong game but was not rewarded, giving up two runs in the middle of the eighth inning and suffering his second loss (5 wins). He had been holding on with the score tied at 1-1 until the eighth inning, when he walked the leadoff Walk and then gave up a go-ahead doble to Izumiguchi. "I think it was a truly sensational result. I was doing well until the seventh inning, but when I walked the leadoff hitter in the eighth inning, that was the turning point," he said, accepting the outcome.

This season, he has appeared in nine games, starting and recording eight quality starts (QS) where he pitched at least six innings with three or fewer earned runs. Manager Mamoru Kishida also praised the foreign right-hander's strong pitching, saying, "His pitches were very sharp."