◆Nippon Life Interleague Series 2026: DeNA 2-4 Softbank Hawks (12 extra inning) (July 7, Yokohama)

Softbank Hawks won their second extra inning game of the season, securing their fourth consecutive series win in interleague play.

In the 12th inning, with extra inning tied 2-2, DeNA's Yamazaki took mound for the first time, and pinch hitter Nomura led off with doble to left field. The next batter, Hirose Takashi, hit an infield single that bounced off first baseman Tsutsugo's hit. With no outs and runners on first and third, Shoji stepped up to the plate and attempted a safety squeeze on the first pitch. The ball was angled towards first base as intended, but when it hit the bat it looked like a short fly ball, and he recalled, "I thought my heart was going to jump out of my chest," but third runner Nomura easily scored, giving his team the lead.

On this day, the lineup was 4 At Bat 0 hit 3 struck out, and it was my turn at bat. extra inning In the 10th inning, Takashi Hirose, who was batting right in front of me, was intentionally walked intentional walk, putting me up to bat with one out bases loaded. However, I flew out to shortstop and couldn’t score."I had already failed to capitalize on a chance in my previous at-bat bases loaded, so I approached this one with the mindset that if I didn’t deliver here, it would determine the rest of my baseball career," he reflected on the V squeeze. "I was determined to contribute to the team somehow. It was more than just ‘desperate’—I truly went all out, risking everything." By getting the job done under immense pressure, he has undoubtedly cleared yet another hurdle.