◆ Pacific League vs. Softbank Hawks (20th, ZOZO Marine Stadium)

Lotte outfielder Katsuya Kakunaka, who announced his retirement at the end of this season, started starting line-up as the "number 8 hitter and designated hitter."

starting line-up was his first time since the game against Nippon-Ham on July 7 (ZOZO). In his first at-bat with a runner on second with no outs in the second inning with a 1-0 lead, he grounded out the third pitch from the stands, a two-ball, 1-strike call, backed by a full-volume "kaku naka" chant. He advanced runner to third base, and in the sacrifice fly of Tsuyoshi Yamazaki's infielder in the middle of the next pitch, he scored his second run.