◆ Pacific League Softbank Hawks 5-4 Lotte (20th, ZOZO Marine Stadium)

Softbank Hawks won a close game to extend their winning streak to four games. After the game, manager Kokubo revealed catcher Yuta Yamamoto, who had been sidelined with a fractured left hamate bone, will rejoin the first team for pre-game practice before the game against Orix Buffaloes on the 21st (at Mizuho PayPay Dome). "He'll be here from tomorrow. I don't know if he'll be registered as a player, though," he explained.

Yu Yamamoto joined the team in a trade from DeNA in May. He performed well as a "hitting catcher," batting .349 with 2 Home Run in 14 games. However, he injured his hamate bone in his left hand and was removed from the starting line-up on June 6th. He has started in five consecutive games in the minor leagues up to the 19th and will return to the first team in full health.