◆ Pacific League Softbank Hawks 3-0 Rakuten Eagles (12th, Mizuho PayPay Stadium)

Rakuten Eagles lost to Softbank Hawks, suffering their second consecutive defeat.

Starting Tatsuki Koja returned to the mound after recovering from upper body discomfort, making his first appearance in the first team in about three weeks. In the first inning, with one out and runners on first and third, he gave up an RBI single to Kurihara, conceding the first run.

In the third inning, with one out and a runner on first, he gave up a two-run homer to Kurihara to right field, extending the lead. He then pitched tenaciously, leaving the game after six innings, having allowed six hit and strike out runs striking out six. He pitched a solid game, but it wasn't his first win in about two months.

The batting lineup struggled against starting pitcher Haru Matsumoto (Softbank Hawks). They created a scoring opportunity in the first inning with one out and runners on first and second, but the red-hot McCusker grounded out to third double play. After that, they went silent and were held scoreless.