◆ Pacific League: Softbank Hawks vs. Orix Buffaloes (25th, Mizuho PayPay Dome)

Softbank Hawks pitcher Jun Maeda left the game after 5 1/3 innings, having given up 2 runs.

In the first inning, he allowed Yamanaka to a single to right field, but ended the game with no runs. In the second inning, he was in trouble with no outs bases loaded, but gave up one run due to a grounder to shortstop by Sō double play.

In the third inning, with one out and runners on second and third, Sugimoto hit a sacrifice fly to left field, giving up a total of two runs. In the third inning, with two outs, Kondo hit his 17th home run of the season, and in the fifth inning, with two outs and a runner on second, he hit a timely single to right field to tie the game.

In the sixth inning, with one out, he gave up three consecutive hits from Nakagawa, Kurinashi, and Sou before being taken out. Draft rookie Gota Suzuki =Daisho University=, who advanced to mound with one out and bases loaded, retired Wakatsuki on a grounder to second double play on one pitch, preventing runs from the pitch. Jun Maeda said, "In the first half, I tried too cautiously, which ended up with a bad rhythm pitch. I think from the middle to the second half, I gradually started to build good pitch. In the sixth inning, breaking ball was hit while he was floating. To throw longer inning, you need to practice the parts other than the pitch (fielding, base cover) as well. All we need is practice," he reflected.