◆ Pacific League Softbank Hawks 3-2 Seibu Lions (3rd, Mizuho PayPay Stadium)

Softbank Hawks 's Yanagita delivered a hit to his "comrade-in-arms." In the fourth inning, with one out and doble on first, trailing by one run, he hit a game-tying double. "Kuri (Kurihara) made a great run and made it all the way home," he said, praising his younger teammate who scored from first base with a hit that broke through left-center field. Immediately afterwards, he scored the winning run on a timely triple by Kawase. The energetic 37-year-old, the oldest player on the team, brought about the come-from-behind win.

Before the game, his teammate Akira Nakamura who is one year younger, announced his retirement. He presented him with a bouquet of flowers at the press conference and thanked him for his hard work. He and Nakamura had both been regulars since 2013 and had been instrumental in the team's consistent victories. They used to live in the same apartment building and even went out to eat together. "We were together since our time in the dorms. We spent a lot of time together, not just baseball. I feel very sad." He poured those feelings into his bat.

Akira Nakamura said that he had "special feelings" for Yanagida, and that Yanagida was the first person he told about his retirement. Seeing this as their last chance to experience a championship together as players, Yanagida simply said, "I'll do my best." The team achieved their second six-game winning streak of the season, with one draw in between, and their lead in the standings has grown to a season-high of 17 games. (Tosei Moriguchi)