◆ Pacific League Softbank Hawks 7-2 Lotte (May 5th, Mizuho PayPay Stadium)

Lotte's pitcher staff gave up two three-run homers to Softbank Hawks 's Kensuke Kondo, resulting in a 1-2 record and failing to win the series.

Left-handed starting pitcher Kazuya Ojima gave up a three-run homer to Kondo in the first inning with no outs and runners on first and second. In the third inning, with one out and runners on second and third, Kyota Fujiwara hit a two-run doble that hit the right-center wall fence, narrowing the gap to one run. However, in the fifth inning, with one out and runners on second and third, reliever Akira Yagi gave up a three-run homer to Kondo, widening the deficit to four runs.

A win for Lotte would have given them their first "three wins above .500" under manager Saburo, but this season they have lost all four games since entering the season with a "two wins above .500" lead. They are being held back by the "three wins above .500 barrier."

Starting on the 7th, we'll be playing against Nippon-Ham at our home stadium, ZOZO Marine Stadium. The team is in good shape by no means. We'll overcome this with a strong spirit.