◆パ・リーグ　オリックス３―１西武（５日・京セラドーム大阪）

Orix Buffaloes pitcher Andrés Machado had a nerve-wracking moment. In the 9th inning, with a two-run lead and just one out away from win, a trainer came onto mound. He spoke with the trainer for about a minute through an interpreter, but then continued pitching. He then retired the next batter, Ishii, with a fly ball to right field, earning his 20th save of the season, his third in a row.

After the game, he emphasized that he was fine, saying, "It was around my left shoulder blade. It stung a little, but that happens often. I knew how to make it heal, so I took a breath there. pitcher coach tried to stop me, but I knew I could go, so I insisted on going." He added reassuringly, "Even if I had said I wanted to be replaced at that moment, no one in bullpen would have been ready. I didn't want to cause any trouble."