◆Nippon Life Interleague Series 2026 Rakuten Eagles 2-8 The Giants (9th -Rakuten Eagles Mobile is the strongest)

Rakuten Eagles lost to The Giants, suffering their fourth consecutive defeat. Their deficit reached a season-worst 15 games.

Shoji, who started the game, gave up a three-run homer to Dalbec in the third inning with two outs and runners on first and third, giving up the first run of the game. In the sixth inning, with one out and a runner on second, he gave up a two-run homer to Sasaki to the left field home run terrace, and then in the seventh inning, he gave up a solo homer to Kishida to left field. He gave up 12 hit 6 runs in 7 innings. Manager Hajime Miki said of the right-hander, "He was very frustrated that fork he threw there (when he gave up the three-run homer to Dalbec) was still there. The fact that it was hit so well is the result. I always tell Shoji that this is his first year in the rotation after being entrusted with the opening pitcher. How he uses this experience to his advantage going forward will be a big mission for him. I want him to process his frustration and learn from it so that he can move forward again and again."

The lineup runner against Norimoto, the The Giants, but couldn't push further. In the second inning, he created a great opportunity with runners on first and third with one out. Ota set a safety squeeze, but the white ball landed in front of pitcher. Kurokawa, runner third baseman, tried to score home but was out. With two outs and runners on first and second, Nakajima flies out to a foul. Missed the chance. In the fifth inning, he created a good opportunity with two outs and runners on second and third, but Taira grounded out to shortstop. "Maybe the leading hitter was able to get out, or maybe we got walk, but since the last match, I thought we could have scored first. I wished we could have scored first in the second inning, but there were also moments where they conceded first with home run," he said frustrated.

Regarding the failed safety squeeze play, he said, "I sent the ball to Ota thinking he could make it, but he rolled it a little too far inside. The opposing team's fielding also played a part. We were hoping to score the first run somehow. It's my fault for giving the signal, so next time, I hope Ota will practice more so he can do more things. I think being able to do things like that is one of his strengths, so I hope he can use this to his advantage going forward."

They mounted a comeback in the 7th inning with a two-doble down the right field line by Sato, but it wasn't enough. They are struggling in the interleague series with a record of 2 wins and 10 losses, and are in a difficult situation.