The Nippon Seimei Central-Pa Exchange Game 2026 Hanshin Tigers 1-0 Rakuten Eagles (6th, Koshien)

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

The early part was pitcher battle. Hayakawa, who started the game, carefully switched to the course and cooked hitter. He closer runs through the fourth inning, but the game moved to the fifth. In the fifth inning with neither team scoring and one out, a runner on second was in danger, and Kumagai stole third to Kumagai with runner on second. With one out and a runner on third, he gave up a timely single to left by Tateishi, giving up the lead. Hayakawa pitched well in the sixth inning, 5 hit 1 runs, but still lost. Regarding the left-handed pitch, manager Hajime Miki praised him, saying, "I think it was a great pitching move."

The turning point in the game runs was Walk to the leadoff hitter and a stolen base to third base. The manager said, "As I always say, it's about scoring the first run, and their pitcher Murakami is also a good pitcher, so it's not easy. Hayakawa's strength is that he can persevere even when the leadoff hitter gets on base, but he gave up walk and (Hanshin Tigers) executed a bunt on the first try. From our defense, we were a little lacking in precaution (against Kumagai's stolen base to third base). We need to work on those things, and the players are doing their best, but I also need to talk to the coaches about it."

The batting lineup couldn't deliver that final push against Hanshin Tigers 's starting pitcher, Murakami. In the 4th, 5th, and 6th innings, the leadoff batter got a hit in each inning. However, they couldn't get the crucial hit when the opportunity arose. The leadoff hitter got on base, but the subsequent batters couldn't connect, resulting in shutout game loss. "I think you're right," he said dejectedly.

In the sixth inning, trailing by one run, with no outs and runners on first and second, Kurokawa, who batted cleanup, struck out, and Murabayashi grounded out to double play to shortstop. The commander said, "That's the result too. They have a lot to gain from it. He'll be able to bat cleanup today and be able to hit in places like that more and more from now on. What kind of batting order is that? Well, I think being able to hit him at the plate is a challenge going forward," he said, wishing for his growth.

After losing a close game, their deficit is now a season-worst 14 games. They are struggling greatly in the interleague series, with a record of 2 wins and 9 losses in 11 games.