◆ Pacific League Nippon-Ham 2-4 Softbank Hawks (14th, ES CON FIELD)

Softbank Hawks They won a close game, becoming the first team in either league to reach 50 wins. They also extended their winning margin to a season-high 19 games. Takashi Umino catcher, who batted ninth as “catcher,” stood out for his contributions both offensively and defensively.

The score was 0-0 in the third inning with one out. Mizuno, who reached base at Walk, got off to the start. At the at-bat of third batter Kiyomiya, it was the fourth pitch with one ball and two strike. Unno requested a pitch-out (a pitch that misses the pitch wide to the outside corner) and stopped the second steal. In the moments leading up to the cleanup, he made good decisions and nipped the seeds of a crisis. Battery coach Toru Hosokawa praised him, saying, "I think he really saw the runner. It was big."

Although he went hitless at hit, he drew two Walk. In the ninth inning, with one out and runners on second and third after pinch doble Yanagimachi's timely double, he drew Walk. He then played a crucial role in setting up Masaki's two-run hit that sealed win.