Softbank Hawks missed out on winning the interleague series for the second consecutive year. Seibu Lions win against Hanshin Tigers (Koshien) and secured their first championship on their own merit. The interleague series had concluded on the 14th with a record of 14 wins and 4 losses. If Seibu Lions had lost that day, they would have had a chance to win their 10th championship, the most among the 12 teams, depending on the circumstances.

　交流戦前の貯金は１だった。開幕投手も務めた上沢が右肘の状態不良でファーム調整になるなど、開幕時からローテを守っているのは大津のみ。苦しい状況だった中で、期間中は２０歳の前田悠、５月２３日に支配下登録された２１歳のアルメンタら若手も含め８人が先発した。倉野信次投手チーフコーチは「チーム状況は気にせず、力を最大限出すことに集中して」と伝え、それぞれが奮闘。定まりつつあるオスナ、松本裕、杉山の勝ちパターンなど救援陣もフル回転した。３週間続いた６連戦。投手陣一丸で乗り切っていたが、歓喜に届かなかった。

Among the position fielder, Kurihara is a sure bet to win two titles in interleague play with 7 Home Run and 19 RBI, leading the way with a league-leading 26 Home Run and 81 runs scored. Errors were also the fewest among the 12 teams with just one, and the manager nodded, saying, "Our pitching and hitting are finally clicking together."

The league season will resume on the 19th with a game against Nippon-Ham (at Escon Stadium). They are in second place, 3.5 games behind the league leaders Seibu Lions, who won the interleague championship. They will definitely get their revenge for the interleague defeat in the coming games.