◆ Pacific League Rakuten Eagles Orix Buffaloes (15th, Rakuten Eagles Mobile Saikyo Park Miyagi)

Rakuten Eagles 's Kenta Maeda pitcher against Orix Buffaloes and pitched well, allowing only 4 hit 2 runs over 7 innings. He didn't get the win or the loss, so his 100th career win in NPB will have to wait, but he contributed to the team's second consecutive win. "As a starting starter, my job is for the team to win the games I pitch. In the end, Tai and (Fujihira) Shoma also pitched well, so I'm really happy that we were able to win," he nodded.

He got off to the start with a good rhythm. In the first inning, he led off by closer Nakagawa, a junior from PL Gakuen, to fly out to center, resulting in no runs. He got off to a good start. However, in the third inning, he led by one run. With two aggressive hit, he put runners on first and third with no outs, but runs with a safety squeeze (record sacrifice bunt fielder’s choice). Then, with one out bases loaded, he allowed Yamanaka to sacrifice fly to right, giving the team the lead.

There was an accident in the fifth inning. The leadoff pitcher, Kurita's line drive, hit the area near his neck. He briefly went to the bench for treatment, but then moved back up to mound. With his left neck swollen and red, he swung his arm and pitched well. After the game, he said, "It's okay, I'm strong. I was a bit bothered when I hit him, but when I went up the next inning, I didn't worry too much. If I worry too much, it would have an impact, so I went without worrying," emphasizing that he was safe.

He has achieved a High Quality Start (HQS = 7 innings or more with 2 or fewer earned runs) in three consecutive games, continuing to pitch in a way that proves his complete recovery.