◆ Pacific League: Rakuten Eagles vs. Seibu Lions (22nd, Tokyo Dome)

Seibu Lions outfielder Seiya Watanabe hit a go-ahead solo home run in the third inning, his sixth of the season and his second in as many games.

Watanabe, who started at third base as No. 7 in the lineup, led off the third inning by hitting a 144-kilometer-per-hour pitch from Hayakawa (Rakuten Eagles) off full count into the left-center field stands.

After being shut down by Hayakawa with three batters each in the first and second innings, the team's first hit came as a go-ahead solo home run. Watanabe commented with satisfaction, "I was able to hit the high fastball well." Buoyed by the powerful home run, the offense added another run in the same inning with a two-run RBI single by outfielder Shinya Hasegawa with two outs and runners on first and third, bringing the score to a total of three runs.