◆Nippon Life Interleague Series 2026 Orix Buffaloes 3-6 Hanshin Tigers (13th, Kyocera Dome Osaka)

Orix Buffaloes lost the second game of the Kansai Derby against Hanshin Tigers, dropping to fourth place for the first time since April 5th. After 17 interleague games, their record is 8 wins, 8 losses, and 1 draw. Their chance to achieve a winning record for the fourth consecutive year will have to wait until the final game.

Starter Jerry pitched 7 hit 4 runs (2 earned) over 6 innings, but his performance was unrewarded, earning his third loss. From the seventh inning onward, he connected with Teranishi and Yamazaki, but in the ninth, when the lead was within one run, Iwasaki gave up two runs.

Trailing by four runs in the sixth inning with no outs and runners on first and second, Nishikawa hit an RBI single to left-center field doble. That brought in one run, and with one out and runners on second and third, Mune also delivered an RBI single to right field. They scored another run on an opponent’s error, but it wasn’t enough. Still, they managed to score three runs off the dominant left-hander Hanshin Tigers Takahashi hit.We’re looking to build on this momentum heading into the final game on the 14th.