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

Softbank Hawks 's Kurihara redeemed himself with his bat. In the first inning, with one out and runners on first and third, he hit a timely single to left field off Koja, and in the third inning, with one out and a runner on first, he hit his 25th home run of the season, a two-run shot that puts him at the top of both leagues. He broke his 15-at-bat hit streak and contributed to all of the team's runs. "I was more focused than I've ever been in my life," he said, his expression unfazed as he reflected on the game.

The game against the Rakuten Eagles on the 11th (at Mizuho PayPay) was one in which he was deeply remorseful, calling his performance “pathetic.” In the third inning, with a 5-run lead and one out, runners on first and second, defense. He misread the out call count and, after calling a grounder to third catch, stepped on third base and tried to return to the bench.Manager Kokubo also pointed out that he was “full of lapses.” Kurihara reflected, “My heart was pounding so hard I couldn’t sleep. I’ll make sure this never happens again,” and approached the game with that lesson firmly in mind. The manager praised it as “Kurihara’s day,” and he was able to regain some of the manager’s trust.

The team is comfortably leading the league, maintaining a three-game lead over second-place Seibu Lions. The team captain indicated signs of recovery, saying, "In terms of hitting alone, it's gotten a little better." In his 12th year as a professional, he is one of the players who carries the banner of the consistently winning The Hawks. He leads the team with a strong sense of responsibility. (Tosei Moriguchi)