◆Nippon Life Interleague Series 2026 Softbank Hawks 8-1 Yakult (13th, Mizuho PayPay Dome)

Softbank Hawks, who finished second in the interleague series due to a difference in winning percentage, came from behind to win, keeping their hopes of winning their 10th championship alive.

Starting pitcher Maeda Yu pitched at a good tempo from the first inning. In the second inning, he allowed a solo home run to the leadoff batter, cleanup hitter Shiomi, but did not allow any further runs. Once he got into a rhythm, Kondo hit a two-run homer in the third inning with two outs and a runner on second base to take the lead.

In the sixth inning, Nomura's solo home run and other hits added three more runs to extend the lead, and Maeda Yu pitched a career-high seven innings, fulfilling his role as starter. In the seventh inning with one out and a runner on first, Nomura hit his second home run of the day, a two-run shot, to put the team further ahead. This was the first time in three games, since the game Hanshin Tigers on the 9th (at Mizuho PayPay Dome), that he had hit two home runs in consecutive at-bats.

Having avoided a losing streak, Yu Maeda secured his fourth win of the season, remaining undefeated.