◆Nippon Life Central-Pacific Interleague Series 2026 Hanshin Tigers 8–1 Rakuten Eagles (May 5, Koshien)

Rakuten Eagles lost to Hanshin Tigers, suffering their second consecutive defeat.

The early part of the game was a battle of the pitcher. Starter Kishi, making his second appearance of the season, pitched runs through four innings. The batting lineup, eager to support the veteran right-hander, was Hanshin Tigers silenced by starter Takahashi and managed only two hit scattered hits through four innings, failing to score a single run.

The game turned in the fifth inning. With two outs and runners on first and second, Teru Sato stepped up to the plate. The Tigers’ slugger hit a two-run doble to right-center field. Despite pitching tenaciously, he gave up the first run of the game, breaking the deadlock.He was replaced by a pinch hitter leading off the sixth inning. With a line of 3 hit and 2 runs over five innings, he missed out on his first win of the season. Regarding the right-hander who kept the game close, Rakuten Eagles Manager Hajime Miki nodded and said, “He Hikaru Ito (catcher) and —he prepared thoroughly, including his pre-game routine, and really hung in there pitch.”

The lineup was trailing four runs in the seventh inning with three consecutive hits and no outs, bases loaded Kurokawa hit a timely single to center. However, I couldn't push any further. From No-Die bases loaded, McCuscar and Hikaru Ito struck out consecutively. Pinch hitter Yoshi Watanabe grounded out to second. The manager expressed frustration, saying, "Kishi held on and pitch, so ideally, we could score first, but we couldn't break through easily," and added, "(In the 7th inning) we were able to create chances, but the key is how Kurokawa's followers can move forward, which is the main theme."

After Kishi was taken out, the relief couldn't hold up. After Sho Watanabe gave up two runs in the sixth inning, Tatsuki Ito in his professional debut went 4 runs in the seventh. Just like the previous day, the 4th, when they couldn't hold a 7-run lead, the relief staff runs heavily in the field. Interleague play was a tough battle, with a 2-8 record. The debt has grown to 13.