◆ Pacific League 4-5 Softbank Hawks (18th, ZOZO Marine Stadium)

Softbank Hawks appears poised to pull away from the league for a third consecutive championship. Their lead has reached a season-high 20 games above .500, giving them their largest lead of the season so far, four games ahead of second-Seibu Lions. The key players in this lead are the Hawks' "KK duo." Kondo, who leads the Pacific League in RBI, hit a game-tying single in the third inning for his 69th RBI. Not to be outdone, Kurihara, who is second in RBIs, hit a two-run doble in the fourth inning to extend the lead to four runs and record his 67th RBI.

Kondo and Kurihara have each posted 116 RBI and 112 RBI per season, respectively. Kondo complained of discomfort in the back of his right thigh during the Nippon-Ham game on the 16th (Mizuho PayPay), but Manager Kokubo explained, "If it's a DH, it can work, so we're working to heal it while playing in games." "I focused," said the genius hitter, showing his batting that remains unchanged even with injuries.

If a duo with 110 RBI more RBIs emerges in the same season, it would be the first time for the team since Matsunaka (123) and Jojima (119) in 2003. The first game of the nine-game road series was a close one-run victory. The reigning champions seem poised to finish the first half of the season strongly. (Koichiro Shimao)