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.

The team had a lead of just one game before the interleague series. With Uwasawa, who had also served as the opening day pitcher, being sent to the farm team for adjustments due to a right elbow injury, only Otsu had maintained his place in the rotation since the start of the season. In this difficult situation, eight pitchers, including young players such as 20-year-old Maeda Yu and 21-year-old Armenta, who was registered as a regular player on May 23rd, started games during the interleague series. pitcher coach Kurano Shinji told them, "Don't worry about the team's situation, just focus on giving your best," and each of them fought hard. The relief pitchers, including the now-established winning pattern of Osuna, Matsumoto Yu, and Sugiyama, also worked at full capacity. pitcher staff worked together to get through the six-game series that lasted for three weeks, but victory was not within their reach.

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.