◆ Pacific League Seibu Lions 2-4 Nippon-Ham (27th, Belluna Dome)

Seibu Lions and Chihiro Sumida pitcher pitched 8 2/3 innings with 11 strike out and 9 hit 4 runs, but their seventh win was put on hold. "It's my responsibility. As you can see, Conceding a goal late in the game was everything," he said, biting his lip for the fourth loss.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, with the score tied 1-1 and one out with doble on second base, he gave up a go-ahead double down the right-field line to Narama, throwing his cap onto the ground in anger at himself. With two outs and a runner on second base, he gave up a timely triple to Mizuno that went over center fielder 's head, and his eyes welled up with tears, showing his frustration. At this point, manager Nishiguchi called for a pitching change, and he left the game with a heavy heart, saying, "Rather than wanting to finish the game, I just wanted to somehow keep the score tied," his shoulders slumped.

In the first inning, with two outs and an unlucky hit putting two outs and a runner on third, he got off to the runs with no ground. In the fifth inning, with one out and runners on second and third, he faced a crisis, but Tamiya grounded out and let Mizutani pass, clenching his fists powerfully with both hands as a struck out.

In the 7th inning, he retired Narama, Igohata, and Mizuno on the first pitch, completing the first inning in three pitches and achieving a 'three-pitch inning.' By the time he finished the eighth inning, he had thrown 97 pitches, but had already reached mound in the ninth.

The gap between them and second-place Softbank Hawks, whose game was canceled due to rain, narrowed to 1.5 games.