◆ Pacific League Softbank Hawks 5-2 Orix Buffaloes (25th, Mizuho PayPay Dome)

Orix Buffaloes manager Mamoru Kishida (45) gritted his teeth. "The fielder are hitting well, but we just can't seem to score runs. We're putting together the lineup with a lot of thought, but..." Despite hitting 13 hit, following 15 hits on the 24th, they only managed two hit without a single timely hit and suffered another loss. Sugimoto, who was placed in the cleanup spot for the first time this season, said "it has a lot of meaning," and although he hit sacrifice fly in the third inning, he went 0-At Bat-4 at hit.

The sixth inning proved to be the turning point. With the score tied and one out bases loaded, Wakatsuki grounded out to second double play. Immediately after defense, Ota committed an error on a grounder to second by leadoff hitter Dai Makihara.With two outs and runners on second and third, Yamazaki allowed Shōji to drive in the go-ahead two-run single to center field, ending the team’s 11-game winless streak runs. The manager noted, “We’ve been making a few minor mistakes in the sixth inning, so we’ll go back and double-check those details before our next game.”

Having lost two consecutive series, their chances of a winning record for June have vanished. They remain in a difficult situation, 1.5 games behind third-place Nippon-Ham. "We have to somehow turn things around from here. We just have to take it one game at a time and try to win," said manager Kishida. They still have a five-game lead. If everyone approaches the game with strong determination, the situation will surely improve. (Shunta Nanbu)