◆ Pacific League: Nippon-Ham vs. Lotte (23rd, ES CON FIELD)

Lotte, who were on a three-game winning streak, saw their starting pitcher Koshiro Hiroike (23), give up hit in every inning, but he persevered through six innings, throwing 84 pitches and allowing eight hit and three runs. However, he was not given enough run support and missed out on his third win of the season.

In the first inning, he easily recorded two outs, striking out the second batter, Otsuka, with a struck out that was his fastest of the day at 153 km/h, but then gave up a solo home run to the third batter, Reyes, who was his 16th of the season. In the third inning, he gave up another solo home run to the eighth batter, Shindo, who was his second of the season, and then with one out and a runner on second, he gave up a timely triple to Otsuka that went over the center fielder's head.

However, from the fourth inning onward, he allowed runner on base in every inning, but he pitched tenaciously. He managed to achieve a quality start (QS = 6 or more innings, 3 or fewer earned runs). The offense was closer to just two hit and no runs by Nippon-Ham 's starting pitcher Kitayama until the seventh inning, and he left mound without securing win.

On the 22nd, the day before, Hiroike had expressed his enthusiasm, saying, "The team is in good condition and the atmosphere is good, and we've been winning, so I hope I can ride that momentum and deliver a valuable pitching performance. I've been able to pitch well in the last few games, so I want to maintain that going into the next game. I hope to start the game well, set the stage nicely, and hand it over to reliever pitchers in a good rhythm."