◆Nippon Life Interleague Series 2026: Lotte vs. Chunichi (11th, ZOZO Marine Stadium)

Lotte's pitcher Kazuya Ojima started the game against Chunichi on the 11th, throwing 91 pitches over 5 2/3 innings, allowing 7 hit and 1 runs, and strike out 7, earning the right to his third win of the season before being relieved. He was relieved in the 6th inning with two outs and a one-run lead, facing Hosokawa, who had given up Home Run in that game. Kojima looked unhappy about the decision to be replaced, even kicking mound, but after being relieved, he was seen talking with manager Saburo in the dugout.

The left-hander had a record of 2 wins and 4 losses with ERA 2.72 before the game this season. In his last four starts since May, he had pitched seven innings in each of them. In the first inning, he allowed a single to Okabayashi, the leadoff batter, and then another single to Abe with two outs, putting runners on first and second base. Nevertheless, he continued to throw powerful fastballs to Sano, and finally retired him with a fly ball to right field.

In the fourth inning, with two outs, Chunichi 's Hosokawa hit a home run off a poorly placed fastball, scoring one run. He allowed hit in every inning until the fifth, but managed to hold on at crucial moments and limit runs to a minimum.